A day after Singh ceremonially laid the foundation of the 3000 MW hydro-electric power-plant at Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday, green activists pointed out that the project is yet to be cleared by the union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).

“It is surprising that the prime minister has laid the foundation of a hydro-electric project, even though it is yet to go through the mandatory procedure for environmental clearance laid down by the MoEF itself,” said Neeraj Vagholikar of the environmental action group, Kalpabriksh.

Vagholikar even wrote to the prime minister drawing his attention to the fact that the public consultation process for the project was yet to be completed. 

In the first public hearing at Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district last Tuesday, many locals of the indigenous Idu Mishmi and other tribal communities have strongly opposed construction of the dam due to its potentially serious social and environmental impacts, he wrote to Singh.

The prime minister was on a two-day-tour to Arunachal Pradesh since Thursday.  The proposed hydro-power project at Dibang Valley is to be implemented by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation at an estimated cost of Rs 16425 Crore.

To be the highest dam

The dam would be the highest in the country with six head race tunnels and 12 underground power generating units, each having a capacity of 250 MW. The project is yet to be scrutinized by the Expert Appraisal Committee on River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects and the Forest Advisory Committee, which are essential for the environmental and forest clearance processes.

Environmentalists said  that the prime minister sent out a wront message by laying the foundation even before it received clearances. “It gave an impression that the project was being treated as a fait accompli, thereby making the mandatory clearance processes to decide its environmental and social viability seem like a mere formality,” said another activist, Manju Menon.

The State government said the ceremony was organised as the power project already got the clearance from the Public Investment Board.