Cabinet Panel Clears Arunachal’s Kamala Hydel Project, Compensatory Afforestation Planned in Madhya Pradesh |

Updated: February 15, 2026 09:49

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The Environment Ministry’s expert appraisal committee has recommended clearance for NHPC’s 1,720 MW Kamala hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh. The project, three decades in the making, will require felling over 23 lakh trees across dense forest land. Experts stress strict ecological safeguards and compensatory afforestation, raising concerns over biodiversity loss.

Key Highlights

Project Approval: The Centre’s expert panel has cleared NHPC’s 1,720 MW Kamala hydroelectric project, a massive storage dam on the Kamala River, a tributary of the Subansiri in the Brahmaputra basin.
Scale of Impact: The project will affect 3,858 hectares of forest land across Kamle, Kra Daadi, and Kurung Kumey districts, requiring the felling of 23.4 lakh trees.
Environmental Concerns: Experts have warned of large-scale deforestation and stressed the need for a precise ecosystem restoration plan. Wildlife clearance conditions were notably absent in the appraisal minutes.
Compensatory Afforestation: Since degraded forest land is unavailable in Arunachal, compensatory afforestation will be carried out in Madhya Pradesh, raising questions about ecological balance in the Northeast.
Economic Scale: The project, estimated at ₹23,764 crore, is expected to boost power generation capacity and support India’s renewable energy goals.
Three Decades in Waiting: Proposed nearly 30 years ago, the Kamala project has faced repeated delays due to environmental concerns and local opposition.
Final Clearance Pending: While the expert panel has recommended environmental clearance, final forest clearance is still required before construction begins.

Why This Matters

Biodiversity at Risk: Arunachal Pradesh is one of India’s richest biodiversity zones. The loss of 23 lakh trees could severely impact wildlife habitats and ecological stability.
Energy vs Ecology Debate: The project highlights India’s ongoing struggle to balance renewable energy expansion with environmental conservation.
Local Concerns: Indigenous communities and environmentalists have raised alarms about displacement, cultural loss, and long-term ecological damage.
National Energy Push: Despite concerns, the project aligns with India’s broader push for hydropower development to meet clean energy targets.

Closing Note

The Kamala hydel project represents both promise and peril: a leap toward renewable energy capacity, but at the cost of massive ecological disruption. As India weighs development against conservation, Arunachal’s forests stand at the heart of a critical national debate.

Sources: The Indian Express, News18, Moneycontrol

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