Expert body inspects hydropower project site in Arunachal

The expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the Union environment & forest ministry (MoEF) headed by its director B B Barman inspected the site of the proposed Sipit hydropower project (Stage-II) in Upper Siang district to study its feasibility and environmental impact.
The committee, which visited the site yesterday, would submit a report to the ministry on its viability, official sources said here today.
Retired IFS officer H S Kingra, CIFRI fisheries expert Dr K D Joshi, and CWC director and hydrologist Dr N N Rai are the other members of the committee.
The committee was accompanied by state Power Secretary Kaling Tayeng, hydropower development department chief engineer Phuntsok during the appraisal.

The EAC is likely to recommend dropping some of the proposed and ongoing medium and small hydropower projects over several streams in Siang basin, sources said.
Before heading on to West Siang district, the experts commented that it would be more beneficial to have a few 'selective big projects' instead of constructing several small projects in the area, sources said.
The EAC had to cancel its tour to Tuting and Mariyang owing to incessant rainfall and the possibility of disruption of road communication, sources added.