Description

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Context

Arunachal Pradesh government has allocated ₹269.97 crore for 3097 MW Etalin Hydroelectric Project in Dibang Valley marking a major step in Indian renewable energy push & sustainable regional development.

Etalin Hydroelectric Project (EHEP)

Feature	Details
Location	Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh
Installed Capacity	3,097 MW
Type of Project	Run of river hydroelectric project
River System	Dri & Tangon Rivers (tributaries of Dibang River)
Dam Type	Concrete gravity dams
Dam Heights	Dri: 101.5 metres; Tangon: 80 metres
Total Land Requirement	~1,150 hectares (mostly forest land)
Environmental Impact	Falls in Eastern Himalayas one of world biodiversity hotspots
Biodiversity Concerns	Home to rare species like Mishmi takin, clouded leopard, red panda
Indigenous Communities Affected	Primarily Idu Mishmi tribe
Executing Company	Etalin Hydro Electric Power Company Limited (JV of Jindal Power Ltd. & HPDCAPL)
Ownership	Jindal Power Ltd 74%, HPDCAPL (GoAP) 26%
Project Status	Fund allocation of ₹269.97 crore done in 2025 by GoAP; forest clearance re-evaluation ongoing

Idu-Mishmi Tribe

Category	Details
Ethnic Group	Idu-Mishmi (part of larger Mishmi tribal group)
Location	Dibang Valley, Lower Dibang Valley & parts of Lohit District in Arunachal Pradesh
Language	Idu-Mishmi (Tibeto-Burman family)
Population	Approx. 12,000 (Census 2011)
Key Livelihoods	Shifting cultivation (jhum), fishing, hunting, weaving
Religious Beliefs	Animism; strong belief in nature spirits & shamanism
Sacred Practices	Priests called ‘Igu’ mediate between humans & spirits
Social Structure	Clan-based, egalitarian society with customary laws
Conservation Role	Traditionally preserve forest patches as sacred groves
Conflict Concerns	Strong opposition to projects affecting sacred landscapes, biodiversity & displacement

Dibang Valley

Category	Details
Location	Northeastern Arunachal Pradesh bordering China (Tibet)
Geographic Features	Deep valleys, high mountain ridges, snow covered peaks
River Systems	Dibang River & its tributaries Dri, Ithun, Tangon, etc.
Forest Type	Tropical evergreen to alpine forests
Biodiversity Status	Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot
Fauna	Snow leopard, Mishmi takin, red panda, hoolock gibbon
Tribal Population	Dominated by Idu-Mishmi & Miju-Mishmi tribes
Strategic Importance	Close to India-China LAC; under focus for infrastructure
Challenges	Development vs ecology conflicts, remoteness, seismic sensitivity

Major Hydroelectric Projects in India (By Capacity)

Project Name	State	Installed Capacity (MW)	River	Type
Tehri Dam	Uttarakhand	2,400	Bhagirathi	Storage
Sardar Sarovar	Gujarat	1,450	Narmada	Gravity dam
Subansiri Lower	Arunachal Pradesh (Under Construction)	2,000	Subansiri	Run-of-river
Nathpa Jhakri	Himachal Pradesh	1,500	Satluj	Run-of-river
Koyna Hydro Project	Maharashtra	1,960	Koyna	Storage
Bhakra Nangal	Himachal Pradesh/Punjab	1,325	Satluj	Gravity dam
Etalin HEP	Arunachal Pradesh	3,097 (Proposed)	Dri & Tangon (Dibang tributaries)	Run-of-river
Dibang Multipurpose Project	Arunachal Pradesh	2,880 (Under Clearance)	Dibang	Multipurpose

For more information, please refer to IAS GYAN

Sources:

NORTHEAST TODAY

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Assess ecological impact of large scale hydropower projects in seismic & biodiversity-sensitive zones with reference to Etalin & Subansiri projects.