Guwahati: The Environment Ministry’s forest advisory committee (FAC) has received a proposal from THDC India Ltd. requesting permission to divert 869.35 hectares of semi-evergreen forest in the habitat of the critically endangered White-Bellied Heron for the 1,200 MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh. However, the species is not mentioned in the submission to the Center. On May 8, the project will be evaluated by the FAC, which authorises the use of forest land for non-forest activities.
As reported by The Indian Express, the Rs 14,176.26 crore Kalai-II run-of-the-river project on the Lohit river in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district will involve construction of a 128.5-metre concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse.
According to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the critically endangered White-Bellied Heron, which has Scheduled-I status,the highest level of protection lives in the Lohit River. However, “no rare or endangered flora and fauna is present along the proposed forest land diversion area,” according to a joint site inspection report that was included in the proposal and signed by the Namsai Divisional Forest Officer (DFO).
Additionally, Madhya Pradesh has suggested compensatory afforestation to make up for the forest loss in Arunachal. In February 2025, the state forest department informed THDCIL that Arunachal is a “hilly and forested state with forest cover more than two-thirds of the geographical area,” which permitted compensating afforestation in another state.
There have been reports of the elusive bird’s appearance both upstream and downstream of the Kalai-II project. The bird’s presence has already been documented by the state’s forest department, and more recently, independent researchers have noted its presence in the riverine habitat. Calls for comments to the Heron’s absence were not answered by representatives of the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department, including the Chief Wildlife Warden and the Namsai DFO.
The Environment Ministry’s expert appraisal committee on river valley and hydroelectric projects recommended the project for environmental clearance in December.