A group of villages potentially impacted by the proposed Kalai-II Hydro Electric Project (1200 MW) in Anjaw district has raised concerns with the Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (APSPCB). They allege a lack of transparency in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) processes for the project, which is being implemented by THDC India Limited. A public hearing for environmental clearance was held on Wednesday.
The Nukung Welfare Society (NWS), representing the villages of Nukung and Mla, claims their concerns have been consistently ignored. NWS chairman Rohsman Tawsik expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “I placed our concerns on behalf of NWS during the public hearing for environmental clearance. We’ve raised these issues since the SIA was conducted. We don’t want the dam, but we are becoming a minority. Short-sighted individuals are supporting it.”
Tawsik noted that APSPCB has yet to respond to the grievances presented by the society. He further accused the EIA and SIA of being conducted in a flawed and non-transparent manner. “From the pre-feasibility report to the current EIA hearing, there has been no transparency. The SIA and EIA reports seem to be copied from other projects without real field verification. The villagers were excluded from decision-making at every stage,” he stated. Tawsik emphasized that residents of Nukung and Mla have never given prior informed consent for the Kalai-II Hydro Electric Project.
He warned that if the project proceeds, Nukung village will be completely submerged, and sacred Mishmi cultural sites will be destroyed. These include Hutung Graam, Mlaang and Mlaanguh’s Farm, Kaapiyu Raknaang, Parshuram Kund, and the sacred Khi-Maan-Kaman stone inscriptions at Krosam.
In their written objections to APSPCB, the NWS outlined further concerns, including the potential for extensive damage to local biodiversity, significant socio-economic impacts on the community, security risks due to the proximity to the international border, and inadequate planning for resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R). They emphasized the need for independent verification of the situation in the villages.
The NWS has presented six specific demands for the Nukung and Mla communities. They urge the government to reconsider or abandon the project unless genuine consent from affected communities is obtained. If the project moves forward, they call for a transparent, participatory R&R plan to be independently monitored. Additionally, they demand that Nukung be recognized as a special category, being the only original submerged village, and a guarantee of priority employment and lifetime welfare benefits for its residents.
The NWS insists on preserving Mishmi cultural sites through proper relocation or preservation and seeks full compensation for medicinal plants, forests, agricultural land, bamboo groves, hunting and grazing grounds, water sources, and fisheries affected by the project.
Original Source: https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2025/08/21/villagers-allege-lack-of-transparency-in-eia-and-sia-for-kalai-ii-hep/
Category: Bengia Ajum,State News
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-08-21 00:26:00
