Large-scale forest diversion proposed for Kamala hydropower project
The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has applied to the Union Environment Ministry for permission to convert 3,278 hectares of forestland in Arunachal Pradesh to non-forest use for the proposed 1,720 MW Kamala hydroelectric project, according to documents placed before the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC).
The FAC is scheduled to appraise the forest diversion proposal on October 23. If approved, the project across parts of the Subansiri basin would entail the felling of an estimated 23,40,213 trees, the submission shows.
| Parameter | Figure |
|---|---|
| Project capacity | 1,720 MW |
| Forest area proposed for diversion | 3,278 hectares |
| Estimated number of trees to be felled | 23,40,213 |
The documents break down the tree count by forest divisions: the Hapoli division accounts for about 15.08 lakh trees and the Kra Daadi division for roughly 8.31 lakh. The proposal covers tracts in Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey and Kamle districts in the lower Himalayan foothills of Arunachal Pradesh.
Compensatory afforestation planned outside the state
To meet obligations under the Forest Conservation Act when forest land is diverted for non-forest uses, NHPC has proposed compensatory afforestation spanning 7,018 hectares in Madhya Pradesh. The move reflects a legal provision that permits compensatory planting in other states where local non-forest land is not available for afforestation.
Under the Act, when suitable non-forest land cannot be identified locally, the compensatory afforestation requirement may be met on land in other states, or, where necessary, afforestation over a larger area—up to twice the size of the diverted forest—may be required on degraded land. The project documents state that the Madhya Pradesh plantations are intended to fulfil this obligation.
Project context and regulatory steps
The Kamala project is one of several hydroelectric schemes planned on tributaries of the Subansiri. The environment ministry’s sectoral expert committee on river valley and hydropower projects earlier recommended environmental clearance for the scheme in January, but indicated that final environmental clearance would be conditional on in-principle forest clearance.
The FAC appraisal is therefore a critical regulatory step: prior approval from the committee is required before forest land can be used for non-forest purposes. The proposal before the committee contains data on the area to be diverted, tree enumeration, and the compensatory afforestation plan.
Local and ecological implications
Environmental experts and forest authorities typically examine such proposals for impacts on biodiversity, wildlife corridors, slope stability and downstream hydrology. Large-scale felling in the fragile Himalayan foothills raises concerns about watershed protection, sedimentation and the status of high-conservation-value habitats.
- Scale of tree felling: 23.4 lakh trees across three districts.
- Area of forest diversion: 3,278 hectares.
- Compensatory afforestation: 7,018 hectares proposed in Madhya Pradesh.
The documents note that Arunachal Pradesh already has a high forest cover, a factor that allows compensatory plantations to be carried out in other states under existing rules. Nevertheless, compensatory planting away from the original ecosystem does not replicate the ecological functions of the lost forest, a point often raised in environmental appraisals.
What happens next
The FAC’s October 23 agenda includes the Kamala proposal among items for appraisal. The committee’s decision will determine whether forest land can be formally diverted for the project, paving the way for any remaining clearances and project implementation steps. Any approval is likely to be accompanied by conditions aimed at mitigation, monitoring and rehabilitation.
Given the cascade of hydropower projects planned in the Subansiri basin, the outcome of the FAC meeting will be watched closely by forest managers, project proponents and stakeholders concerned with conservation and river basin management.
