Guwahati, May 10: The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has constituted a multi-disciplinary committee to oversee the implementation of environmental safeguards for the Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project. Sources said the nine-member committee, drawn from various fields connected with environment, was constituted after the ministry of environment and forests made it mandatory to include environmental safeguards while clearing the project.
The committee comprises the general manager of the project, a representative of the ministry of environment and forests, NHPC officer in-charge (environment), divisional forest officer of Hapoli, Arunachal Pradesh, deputy chief wildlife warden, Arunachal Pradesh, divisional forest officer of forest division, an orchidologist, State Forest Research Institute, Itanagar and coordinator of Centre for Environment Education, Guwahati.
The 2,000-MW hydroelectric project covers parts of Lower Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh and Dhemaji district in Assam.
The total land requirement of the project is 4,111 hectares, of which 4,039.9 hectares is forest land.
Over 300 people will be partially affected by the project, which is expected to incur a cost of Rs 7,402.69 crore.
The ministry also recommended while clearing the project that adequate free fuel arrangements should be made for the labour force engaged in construction so that indiscriminate felling of trees is prevented.
The ministry stated that baseline data on coliform count should be collected and monitored periodically, as part of the water-quality analysis.
It also stated that a hatchery should be created in the vicinity of the proposed Subansiri reservoir. It should have the required aquaculture facilities for artificial seed production of migratory fishes to stock in the reservoir and the river stretch.
“The local aquatic fauna of the river, particularly fish, snails, prawns and crabs should be documented and identified scientifically. The possible impact of reservoir creation on the availability of the aquatic fauna should also be assessed to enable long-term conservation of the fauna, as well as to ensure their availability to the local population,” it stated.
It also recommended a comprehensive yearlong study on bio-diversity and habitat conservation with reference to the submerged area should be undertaken.
Efforts should also be made to identify the migratory routes of wildlife in the vicinity.