Arunachal’s Mega Hydro Dam Gets Green Light Amid Safety and Tribal Concerns

The Indian central government granted environmental clearance to the ambitious Oju Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri district, unlocking the path for one of the nation's largest hydropower initiatives in a seismically volatile and geopolitically sensitive border region with China. Developed by Oju Subansiri Hydro Power Corporation Pvt. Ltd., the 2,220 MW run-of-the-river scheme with daily peaking capabilities promises to harness the Subansiri River's potential, generating 8,402 million units of electricity annually at an estimated cost exceeding ₹24,942 crore.

The project's infrastructure includes a towering 100-meter concrete gravity dam, a 14.12 km headrace tunnel, and an underground powerhouse complex, positioning it as the flagship among a cascade of proposed dams on the Subansiri—the vital lifeline for Assam's downstream ecosystems and communities. Conceived nearly two decades ago, the Oju initiative has long been mired in controversy, balancing India's renewable energy ambitions against profound social, ecological, and geological challenges.

Environmental clearance came following a September 12 meeting of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), which scrutinized the proposal amid heightened concerns. The entire 750-hectare project footprint comprises forest land, submerging 43.66 hectares of riverine forest and altering flows over an 18.6 km stretch. While official displacement affects only nine families, the ripple effects on the area's 98% tribal population—predominantly Adi and Nyishi communities—are anticipated to be far-reaching, disrupting traditional livelihoods tied to fishing, agriculture, and sacred groves.

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Public hearings in September 2024 exposed deep-seated apprehensions, with locals decrying insufficient compensation, threats to fisheries and biodiversity, and desecration of cultural sites. Demands echoed for equitable power allocation to affected villages, alongside skepticism over the efficacy of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for local schools and health centers. "We want our fair share of the electricity that our rivers will power," one resident articulated, reflecting broader calls for community-centric development.

Ecological red flags abound in this fragile Himalayan terrain, classified under Seismic Zone V—the highest vulnerability tier. The EAC deliberated extensively on glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risks, mandating their integration into design flood models, real-time early warning systems, and mandatory community drills. A post-commissioning environmental impact assessment after five years was also stipulated to monitor long-term effects. Construction will generate 17 lakh cubic meters of muck, necessitating 93 hectares of disposal sites, while mitigation pledges include compensatory afforestation across 1,500 hectares and enhanced e-flow releases surpassing cumulative impact study recommendations to safeguard aquatic life.

Critics, including the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), have branded Subansiri dams as "ticking water bombs" for Assam, citing repeated monsoon-induced damages at the downstream Subansiri Lower project and fears of catastrophic flooding. Environmental NGOs and student groups from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have mobilized against the cascade, warning of slope destabilization, biodiversity loss, and irreversible riverine alterations in this biodiversity hotspot, home to endangered species like the hoolock gibbon and Bengal florican.

Proponents counter with economic upsides: the project is projected to create 1,500 construction jobs and 300 permanent positions, spurring trade, infrastructure, and township development in the remote Upper Subansiri district. As India accelerates its hydropower push to meet 500 GW renewable targets by 2030, the Oju clearance underscores the high-stakes trade-offs in energy transition—fortifying strategic water resources amid border tensions while navigating the ethical imperatives of sustainable development in vulnerable ecosystems.

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