₹7,273 Crore Power Project Greenlit in Assam’s Forests

A Union government-appointed panel has cleared the diversion of 442 hectares of forest land in Assam for a 1,500 MW closed-loop pumped storage project estimated at ₹7,273.23 crore.

The project, proposed by the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited, will come up in Lipgaon and Pankumar villages in Karbi Anglong district, close to an elephant reserve. It is expected to submerge about 352 hectares of land and impact more than 1,100 local residents.

The Environmental Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) noted that the project requires 441.90 hectares of forest land and 42.10 hectares of non-forest land. The lower dam, measuring 50 metres in height, and the 72-metre-high upper dam will both be located within identified elephant corridors.

Given that the lower dam is situated in a small rain-fed stream catchment that remains dry for nearly six months each year, the committee has recommended preparing a detailed action plan to maintain natural stream flows. The closed-loop system, designed to recycle water between upper and lower reservoirs without linking to natural rivers or lakes, aims to meet energy storage requirements while addressing biodiversity conservation and ecosystem concerns.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.