Arunachal Pradesh government shows strong support for project construction

The Arunachal Pradesh government has favored the accordance of clearance to the

1,750 MW Demwe Lower hydro electric project (HEP), despite serious concerns raised by Dr.

Asad Rahmani, a member of the special team constituted by the Ministry of Environment and

Forests (MoEF), over the possible impact of the project on biodiversity and area

downstream.
 8Both team members, namely-- Asad Rahmani, Director of the Bombay Natural History Society

and Pratap Singh, Arunachal Pradesh chief conservator of forest (wildlife) have submitted

separate contrasting reports on the feasibility of the project after conducting a site

inspection study.
 8In response to Rahmani's report, the representatives of the state government have clearly

stated that the impact of the water level variation due to the Demwe Lower HEP peaking, on

the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park (DNP), is hypothetical and alarmist in nature.
8In support of this claim, they have highlighted the fact that the WAPCOS simulation study

has not indicated any adverse impact on DNP due to its distance of 100 km from the dam

site. Further, the flow at all times remains below the lowest point of the national park

and there is no grassland within the adjoining river bank that would be affected.