The Environment Ministry has declined clearance to the hydel power project of the KSK group saying the unit proposed in Arunachal Pradesh may fall under an area demarcated for a wildlife sanctuary and is close to the Pakke Tiger Reserve.

The KSK group company, Kameng Dam Hydro Power Pvt Ltd, is working on the 420-MW hydel power project, which has already been relocated once.

While denying the clearance, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forest has suggested that the company relocate the project as it may fall under a Wildlife Sanctuary, National Park and Sample Plots demarcated by the Forest Department.

“After discussing all the alternatives at length, the Committee felt that even Alternative 2B (new site) is not suitable as constructing a dam so close to the Pakke Tiger Reserve would not be advisable,” the EAC observed in its comments.

EAC said the site is suitable from various angles but adjoins the Pakke Tiger Reserve, which is only 350 mts away.

When contacted, Mr S. Kishore, Executive Director of KSK Energy Ventures Ltd, said they will once again appeal to the Ministry to reconsider the proposal.

The Rs 2,500-crore project was taken over by KSK Electricity Financing India Pvt Ltd in January 2007 from the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation.

The project location was changed earlier as Seppa town, which is the headquarters of East Kameng district, would be submerged given the proposed full reservoir level of 440 meters.

KSK then re-surveyed the area and proposed another location which was approved by the State Government.

KSK applied for the new site and reduced the project capacity from 600 MW to 420 MW.

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