Lohit River Basin hydropower plans

The Union Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee recommends environmental clearance for the Kalai-II hydroelectric project on the Lohit River. The project is currently relevant due to concerns over riverine habitats and critically endangered white-bellied heron.

Kalai-II Hydroelectric Project:

Dimension	Key Details
Developer	The project is developed by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited India Ltd.
Location	The project is located on the Lohit River in Hawai village of Anjaw district, Arunachal Pradesh.
River System	The Lohit River is a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
Capacity	The project has a capacity of 1,200 MW.
Project Type	The project is a run-of-river with pondage project.
Structure	The project comprises a concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse.
EIA Consultant	Water and Power Consultancy Services Ltd. is the Environmental Impact Assessment consultant.
EIA Concern	The avian fauna chapter lists 28 species across 19 families but omits the white-bellied heron and threatened species details.
Lohit River Basin	The Lohit River Basin supports free-flowing riverine habitats important for fish diversity and endangered avifauna.
Threatened Locations	Threatened locations comprise Kamlang Tiger Reserve, Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Walong, and Parshuram Kund.
White-Bellied Heron	The white-bellied heron, Ardea insignis, is the 2nd largest heron in the world after the Goliath heron.
Habitat	The white-bellied heron inhabits free-flowing rivers with rapids and low-disturbance zones.
Population	The global population is less than 250, with 60 estimated in the wild, 4–5 breeding pairs in Bhutan, and fewer in eastern Arunachal.
Threats	Hunting and habitat loss are major threats to the white-bellied heron.
Conservation Status	The white-bellied heron is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.