Guwahati, May 9 -- The Environment Ministry's forest advisory committee (FAC) has received a proposal from THDC India Ltd. requesting permission to divert 869.35 hectares of semi-evergreen forest in the habitat of the critically endangered White-Bellied Heron for the 1,200 MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh. However, the species is not mentioned in the submission to the Center. On May 8, the project will be evaluated by the FAC, which authorises the use of forest land for non-forest activities.

As reported by The Indian Express, the Rs 14,176.26 crore Kalai-II run-of-the-river project on the Lohit river in Arunachal Pradesh's Anjaw district will involve construction of a 128.5-metre concrete gravity dam and an undergr...