Archive · 4 Jan 2026
Environmental Clearance for Kalai-II Hydroelectric Project Approved
The Union Environment Ministry's expert panel has given the green light to build a big dam called the Kalai-II hydroelectric project on the Lohit River in Arunachal Pradesh.
This dam will produce a lot of electricity, but some people are worried because it's near the home of a very rare and endangered bird called the white-bellied heron.
The bird is in danger because of things like hunting and losing its home.
The people who want to build the dam didn't talk much about how it might affect the bird, which has made some environmentalists upset.
They say the dam could hurt the bird even more.
The dam will be built by a company called THDC India Ltd and will cost a lot of money.
Some experts think there are only about 60 of these birds left in the wild.
Union Environment Ministry's expert panel recommended environmental clearance for the 1,200 MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project on the Lohit River in Arunachal Pradesh.
Environmentalists and project-affected persons raised concerns about the omission of the critically endangered white-bellied heron from the project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
The white-bellied heron, a schedule-I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, is critically endangered with fewer than 250 birds left in the wild.
The project involves constructing a 128.5-meter concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse, to be developed by THDC India Ltd at an estimated cost of Rs 14,176.26 crore.
Concerns include habitat loss, hunting, and human disturbances affecting the white-bellied heron, with nesting sites recorded in Walong and Namdapha Tiger Reserve.
- Who
- Union Environment Ministry expert panel, environmentalists, project-affected persons
- What
- Environmental clearance recommended for Kalai-II hydroelectric project
- When
- December 19, 2023 (EAC meeting)
- Where
- Lohit River, Anjaw, Arunachal Pradesh
- Why
- To develop a 1,200 MW hydroelectric project
- Project Name
- Kalai-II Hydroelectric Project
- Location
- Lohit River, Anjaw, Arunachal Pradesh
- Capacity
- 1,200 MW
- Estimated Cost
- Rs 14,176.26 crore
- Developer
- THDC India Ltd
- Endangered Species
- White-bellied heron
- Conservation Status
- Critically endangered (IUCN Red List)
- Protected Areas
- Kamlang Tiger Reserve, Namdapha Tiger Reserve