Why in news? The proposed Etalin hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh has been scrapped in its present form due to threats for local biodiversity

Highlights

• Recently, Forest Advisory Committee said the proposal cannot be considered in its present form and a revised proposal may be submitted for further consideration.

How the project be a threat to Biodiversity ?

• The proposal, involved diversion of 1165.66 hectares of forest land and in dense subtropical, evergreen, broad-leafed, and subtropical rainforest
• The region is a high-mountain watershed prone to natural hazards because of its unique and complex geological, ecosystem, weather and climatic conditions
• Project is likely to impact the habitat and the survival of several endemic and threatened terrestrial species such as the Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Clouded Leopard, Tiger, Arunachal Macaque, Black-necked crane, and the rare Mishmi Wren Babble

About Etalin Hydroelectric Project

• The Project was proposed to be a joint venture between Jindal Power Ltd and the Hydropower Development Corporation of Arunachal Pradesh
• The plan combined two run-of-the-river schemes with concrete gravity dams on rivers Tangon and Dri.

About forest advisory committee

• It is a statutory body of the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) formed under the Forest Conservation Act of 1980.

About Dibang river

• Upstream tributary river of the Brahmaputra
• State : Arunachal Pradesh.
• Mouth: Lohit River
• Originates and flows through the Mishmi Hills in the (Upper) Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley districts.
• Tributaries: Sisar, Mathun, Tangon, Dri, Ithun and Emra