The central government has approved the Kalai-II hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh. Conservationists have warned that the project’s EIA has ignored the critically endangered White-bellied Heron, whose habitat lies along the Lohit River basin.
- The central government has approved the 1,200-MW Kalai-II hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh. The expert panel of the Union Environment Ministry has recommended environmental clearance (EC) for the Kalai-II hydropower project on the Lohit River.
- Conservationists have warned that the project’s EIA has ignored the critically endangered White-bellied Heron, whose habitat lies along the Lohit River basin.
- The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) has approved the 1,200-MW Kalai-II project on the Lohit River. Environmentalists stated that the EIA report did not mention the critically endangered White-bellied Heron found in the project area.
- In 2020, the EAC itself had sought a detailed conservation plan for the heron species while granting approval for the proposed 1,750 MW Lower Demwe project on the Lohit River.
About the Kalai-II hydropower project
- The Kalai-II project is a planned 1,200-MW hydropower scheme on the Lohit River in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh.
- Developed by THDC India Limited, this project on the Lohit River in Anjaw district will include a 161-metre-high concrete dam and an underground powerhouse with 8 turbines, with an estimated cost of ₹14,176 crore.
- It is designed to generate 4.85 TWh of clean energy annually, construct an underground powerhouse, and create around 1,700 jobs over 7 years.
White-bellied Heron
- The White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) is a large species of heron. It is the second largest living species of heron.
- Other names: It is also known as the Imperial Heron or Great White-bellied Heron.
- Its presence in our ecosystem indicates the health of rivers, the environment, fish populations and water quality.
- Habitat: It lives in wetlands of tropical and subtropical forests in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.
- Distribution: It is mainly found in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas from Northeast India and Bhutan to northern Myanmar.
- The White-bellied Heron is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
- Experts estimate that fewer than 250 birds survive worldwide, possibly only around 60 remain.
- In India, along the Lohit River, especially near Walong and Namdapha, major nesting sites exist, making habitat conservation crucial.