Photo Courtesy: nenow
Itanagar: The Forest Advisory Committee has granted in-principle approval to the Kalai II hydroelectric power plant in Arunachal Pradesh, a 1,200-megawatt project that conservationists warn could threaten the critically endangered white-bellied heron. With global populations estimated at fewer than 60 birds as of 2015, the species relies on the pristine, fast-flowing rivers of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot.
Despite the bird's sensitivity to habitat disruption, it was omitted from the project's Environmental Impact Assessment. Project manager Yumlam Benjamin Bida of ATREE emphasized the bird's precarious nature, stating, "The white-bellied heron needs clear, shallow, and fast flowing river streams to fish. They wait for the fish to come, and unlike other herons, they don't move around too much."
The Forest Advisory Committee mandated that the Wildlife Institute of India review a management plan for the bird, yet experts remain skeptical. The project requires clearing over 33,000 trees. To compensate for this loss, the committee approved afforestation efforts in Madhya Pradesh, a decision critics argue is biologically ineffective because that region lacks the ecological profile of Arunachal Pradesh.
Associate Professor Umesh Srinivasan of the Indian Institute of Science noted the mismatch, explaining that the heron requires specific riverine habitats that do not exist in central India. Beyond the ecological concerns, the project has faced opposition from local residents in the Anjaw District. Community leaders have challenged the quality of the impact reports, with some alleging that data was copied from previous documents and failed to account for the unique biodiversity of the region.
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