Demwe Lower Hydel Project Extension Sparks Environmental Debate

Hydel project clearance extended till 2037

Demwe Lower Hydel Project Extension Sparks Environmental Debate: The Demwe Lower Hydel Project, located in Arunachal Pradesh, is a 1,750 MW hydroelectric project built on the Lohit River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River. The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change granted an 11-year extension of environmental clearance in January 2026, allowing the project to remain valid till 2037.

The original environmental clearance was issued in February 2010, with validity until 2020. Due to prolonged litigation and administrative delays, authorities treated the legal delay period as a “zero period,” enabling extension without fresh appraisal. The project is currently being developed by Greenko Demwe Power Limited, which acquired it through insolvency proceedings.

Static GK fact: Arunachal Pradesh has the highest hydropower potential in India, estimated at over 50,000 MW, due to its fast-flowing Himalayan rivers.

Legal issues involving wildlife clearance

A major controversy emerged after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) set aside the project’s wildlife clearance in 2017. The tribunal directed the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) to reconsider approval, highlighting procedural deficiencies in ecological assessment.

Although wildlife clearance was reissued in 2018, critics argue that the earlier legal rejection created uncertainty about the project’s compliance. The 2025 Office Memorandum allowed litigation time exclusion but did not clearly address situations where approvals were cancelled by courts.

The NGT is a specialized judicial body established in 2010 to handle environmental disputes efficiently. Static GK Tip: The NGT was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, and its principal bench is located in New Delhi.

Ecological sensitivity of the Lohit basin

The project involves construction of a 162.12-meter-high concrete gravity dam, resulting in diversion of about 1,416 hectares of forest land and submergence of nearly 1,590 hectares. This raises concerns about deforestation and habitat destruction.

The Lohit basin and nearby Kamlang Tiger Reserve are habitats for rare species, including the critically endangered White-Bellied Heron, one of the world’s rarest birds. Environmentalists argue that ecological conditions may have changed significantly since the original clearance in 2010.

The project is also located upstream of Parshuram Kund, an important Hindu pilgrimage site in Arunachal Pradesh. Changes in river flow may impact cultural and ecological balance in the region.

Static GK fact: The Brahmaputra River, into which the Lohit flows, is one of India’s longest rivers and originates in Tibet, where it is known as the Tsangpo River.

Importance for India’s energy security

Hydropower plays a crucial role in India’s transition toward renewable energy and low-carbon electricity generation. Large hydel projects like Demwe Lower help provide baseload power, stabilize grids, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

However, such projects in Himalayan biodiversity zones often face conflict between development needs and environmental conservation. Proper ecological assessment, wildlife protection, and legal compliance remain essential for sustainable infrastructure development.

The Demwe Lower project highlights the complex balance between energy security, environmental protection, and legal governance in India’s infrastructure expansion.

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Demwe Lower Hydel Project Extension Sparks Environmental Debate: