Kalai-II Project Raises Conservation Questions

Context

The proposed 1,200 MW hydroelectric project, Kalai-II, in Arunachal Pradesh has been the subject of ecological concerns.

Key Highlights

• The project aims to achieve the diversion of 869.35 ha of semi-evergreen forest in Anjaw district, adjacent to China.
• The report suggests the proposal won’t even refer to the habitat of the endangered White-Bellied Heron.
• The project will be put forward for appraisal by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Ministry of Environment.

About the Kalai-II Hydroelectric Project

• The proposed project is on the Lohit River, which is a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
• It is a hydroelectric power project of the run-of-the-river type, which includes:
  • The building of a 128.5 m. long concrete gravity dam.
  • Construction of a substation underground.
  • The cost of the project is estimated to be more than Rs 14,000 crore.
• The project has strategic importance because of its proximity to the Indo-China Border.

Ecological Concerns

• The white-bellied heron is the bird that is found in this habitat.
• The ecosystem of the Lohit River has been identified to support the critically endangered White-Bellied Heron.
• It is the most protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• The bird has been recorded both above and below the project site by independent research and by the forest department before the project.

Significance of the White-Bellied Heron

• One of the world’s most threatened bird species has low population numbers worldwide.
• The bird relies on riverine habitats and forest habitats in which there is no disturbance.
• Hydroelectric projects can have impacts on:
  • River flow patterns.
  • Nesting/Feeding Areas.
  • Water life and water balance.

Compensatory Afforestation Problems

• Compensatory afforestation for forest diversion has been proposed in Madhya Pradesh instead of Arunachal Pradesh.
• According to the police, the reasons are Arunachal’s high forest cover and hilly geographical conditions.
• But, experts say the forest ecosystems in various States are ecologically different and are not equally capable of filling in the gaps in biodiversity in fragile Himalayan regions.
• A debate between development and conservation.A debate between development and conservation.

Justifications for the Project

• Hydropower helps promote clean energy and energy security.
• Border areas have strategic significance in terms of infrastructure development.
• The project can help to create employment and contribute to the economic development of the region.

Concerns Raised

• A large-scale forest diversion can pose a threat to the delicate Himalayan ecosystem.
• Biodiversity-rich river systems can be irreparably damaged.
• Sustainable development goals are being undermined due to weak environmental assessments.

Way Forward

• All EIAs should be thorough, objective and transparent.
• The habitats of endangered species must be given special protection during clearances.
• Before any approval of a large hydropower project, river basin ecological studies should be carried out.
• The compensatory afforestation should preferably be done in the same ecological region.
• Incorporating sustainable infrastructure development needs must consider both strategic needs and biodiversity conservation.

Conclusion

• The Kalai-II hydel project is a prime example of the conflict between development and the environment in such a critical area.
• Hydropower plays a significant role in the energy transition of India and the development of its borders but biodiversity cannot be ignored.

Source: The Indian Express

Mains PYQ

Q. “The most significant achievement of modern law in India is the constitutionalization of environmental problems by the Supreme Court.” Discuss this statement with the help of relevant case laws. (2022)

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