Why In News?

The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has sought clearance from the Union Environment Ministry to divert 3,278 hectares of forest land in Arunachal Pradesh for the Kamala hydroelectric project.

 

What is Kamala Hydroelectric Project?

The Kamala Hydroelectric Project is a major storage-based river valley and clean energy initiative approved by the Union Cabinet.

  • Location: Built on the Kamala River (a major tributary of the Subansiri River) spanning across the Kamle, Kra Daadi, and Kurung Kumey districts in Arunachal Pradesh.

  • Capacity: It has an installed capacity of 1,720 MW and is projected to generate about 6,870 million units (MU) of green energy annually.

  • Project Design: Features a 216-metre-high concrete gravity dam with an underground powerhouse and an exclusive flood cushion component to manage monsoon surges. 

  • Implementation Model: Executed on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis through a Joint Venture between NHPC Limited (74% equity) and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh (26% equity).  

    • Free Mentorship Need Guidance for UPSC / WBCS / State PSC?
    100% Free & Confidential • Quick Callback

  • Financial Outlay: Approved at an estimated cost of ₹26,069.50 crore with a completion timeline of 96 months. 

  • Strategic Objectives:

    • Renewable Energy: Supports India’s non-fossil energy targets and national grid stability, helping manage peak power demands.

    • Flood Moderation: Mitigates severe seasonal flooding in the downstream Brahmaputra Valley.

    • State Benefits: Arunachal Pradesh receives 12% free power plus an additional 1% earmarked for the Local Area Development Fund (LADF), alongside regional infrastructure and employment growth.  

 

About Kamala River

The Kamala River is a major right-bank tributary of the Subansiri River, which is the largest north-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River. 

  • Course: It carves through the rugged terrain, steep valleys, and densely forested mountain ranges of central Arunachal Pradesh.  

  • Biodiversity: The river basin lies within the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity zone, hosting dense, pristine subtropical and temperate forests.

  • Local Communities: The valley serves as a cultural crossroads where indigenous communities like the Nyishi and Tagin tribes reside, practicing traditional agriculture, terraced wet-rice farming, and jhum (slash-and-burn) horticulture.  

 

 

 

Source: INDIANEXPRESS

 

 

 

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Kamala Hydroelectric Project:

  1. It is a run-of-the-river project constructed on the Dibang River in Arunachal Pradesh.

  2. The project is implemented through a Joint Venture between NHPC Limited and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh under the BOOT model.

  3. The Union Government provides budgetary support for its flood moderation component.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Kamala Hydroelectric Project is planned on the Kamala River (a major tributary of the Subansiri River), not on the Dibang River. Furthermore, it is primarily designed as a storage-based scheme (with a 216-metre concrete gravity dam) with flood moderation, rather than a pure run-of-the-river project.  

Statement 2 is correct: The project is executed on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis via a Joint Venture between NHPC Limited (74% equity) and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh (26% equity).

Statement 3 is correct: The Union Government provides central budgetary grant support towards the project's flood moderation component (approximately ₹4,744 crore) to reduce flood impacts in the downstream Brahmaputra valley.