India, Feb. 24 -- A Union government-appointed committee has approved the diversion of 442 hectares of forest land for a 1,500 MW closed-loop pumped storage project in Assam, which is estimated to cost Rs 7,273.23 crore.

The project, proposed at Lipgaon village in the Diphu subdivision of East Karbi Anglong district, shares its boundary with an elephant reserve and will submerge 352 hectares, affecting more than 1,100 residents in the region.

The project, being developed by Assam Power Distribution Company Limited, involves constructing upper and lower reservoirs, water conductor systems, pipelines, and access roads. While labour camps and muck dumping sites are planned on non-forest land.

A total of 23,726 trees have been recorded in ...