Hydel project near China border gets green clearance

NEW DELHI: An expert panel of the Union environment ministry has recommended green clearance to the 1,000MW Naying hydro-electric project, paving the way for other statutory clearances and construction of this run-of-the-river project across the Siyom river in Siang and Shi-Yomi districts, close to the India-China border, in Arunachal Pradesh.The project's environmental clearance (EC) was pending for long. It will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 11,835 crore over 470 hectares by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation, giving a major boost to renewable energy generation in the region.The EC was approved by an expert appraisal committee of the ministry with certain mandatory conditions in its 57th meeting on June 29-30.Though 12 villages will be affected due to the acquisition of land for various components of the project, the panel accepted the detailed plan of the project proponent for relief and rehabilitation of the displaced families. "Land acquired for the project shall be suitably compensated in accordance with the prevailing guidelines of the state govt and provisions under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013," the panel said in its conditional approval.The project proponent will now obtain forest clearance under provisions of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1986, if applicable. Minutes of the meeting, released Monday, however, claimed no project component fell in any notified protected area.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.