The Dibang Hydel Project, a significant hydroelectric initiative worth approximately USD 4 billion, has recently made headlines. The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) decision to dismiss a case against the project’s forest clearance has put this development in the spotlight. This dismissal came about because Arunachal Pradesh communicated that the local people were reluctant to give up their land for the establishment of a National Park, which was a precondition for the approval of the project.
Key Details of the Dibang Hydro Power Project
This project is not simply a hydroelectric initiative; it also functions as a flood control system. It is planned to be developed on the Dibang River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, and is located approximately 1.5 km upstream of the confluence of Ashu Pani and Dibang rivers and around 43 km from Roing, District Headquarter. The project’s aim is to moderate flooding in the areas downstream of the Dibang Dam throughout the monsoon period, managing up to 3000 cumecs. Annually, the Dibang hydropower project is expected to generate up to 11,222 million units (MU) of electricity.
The Role of the National Green Tribunal (NGT)
The NGT is a specialized body established under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) for effective and expeditious disposal of cases related to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources. With its establishment, India became the third country globally, after Australia and New Zealand, to set up a specialized environmental tribunal. It was the first developing country to take this step. The NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same. It primarily operates from New Delhi and has four other offices in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai.
Previous UPSC Civil Services Examination Questions
In the past, questions related to this topic have appeared in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. One such question in 2016 asked: Which of the following is/are tributary/tributaries of Brahmaputra? The options were Dibang, Kameng, and Lohit, and the correct answer was all three. The Brahmaputra basin spreads over Tibet (China), Bhutan, India and Bangladesh, with the river originating in the Himalayas’ Kailash ranges. It enters India at Arunachal Pradesh and flows for 916 km. There were also mains questions related to understanding run-of-river hydroelectricity projects and how they differ from other hydroelectricity projects.
This information provides a comprehensive understanding of the contexts of the Dibang Hydel Project, the NGT and more. It indicates that the development of such projects could significantly impact the local communities and environment, necessitating careful planning and negotiation beforehand.
