Context:
The Forest Advisory Committee of Ministry of Environment has recommended in-principal forest clearance for diverting about 197 hectares of forest land for the revised 820-megawatt Kirthai-II Hydroelectric Project in Jammu and Kashmir. The clearance requires measures for biodiversity conservation, habitat management and animal movement.
Explanation:
- Kirthai-II is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric project proposed on the Chenab River in Padder tehsil of Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir.
- It is situated downstream of Kirthai-I and upstream of the Kiru Hydroelectric Project, forming part of the Chenab basin’s cascading hydropower development.
- The project will be implemented by Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited, a joint venture involving NHPC Limited and the Jammu and Kashmir power-development corporation.
- The Forest Advisory Committee is constituted under Section 3 of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 to advise the Union Government on forest diversion.
- Stage-I clearance is conditional approval; final or Stage-II clearance follows compliance with stipulated conditions.
- Under the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960, the Chenab is classified as a Western River, along with the Indus and Jhelum.
- Key ecological concerns include tree felling, Chilgoza Pine habitat, Himalayan fauna and the need for an animal-passage plan
Source: (The Indian Express, The Hindu, Live Mint)
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