The Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department of Arunachal Pradesh has granted consent to NHPC Limited to identify land in other states for carrying out compensatory afforestation related to two major hydropower projects – the 1,605 MW Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project and the 1,720 MW Kamala Hydroelectric Project. The decision has been taken considering the state’s high forest coverage and limited availability of suitable degraded forest land within Arunachal Pradesh. In its official communication, the department stated that Arunachal Pradesh is a predominantly hilly state with forest cover extending over more than two-thirds of its geographical area. Because of this, the availability of degraded forest land suitable for plantation work within the state is limited. Under forest conservation rules, when such land is not available, compensatory afforestation can be carried out in degraded forest areas located in other states or union territories. According to officials, the plantation activities in connection with these two hydropower projects are expected to be undertaken in Madhya Pradesh.
The Subansiri Upper and Kamala hydropower projects together involve an estimated investment of about ₹43,000 crore and are expected to generate approximately 12,746 million units of electricity every year once completed. NHPC had earlier signed a memorandum of agreement with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh in August 2023 for the development of these and other hydropower projects with a combined installed capacity of 3,325 MW in the state. Officials clarified that compensatory afforestation rules require the identification of degraded forest land that is at least twice the area of forest land diverted for development activities. The selected land must also meet technical conditions, such as being suitable for plantation, remaining compact in area, and not consisting of natural climax forests or ecologically sensitive zones.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests P. Subramanyum explained that Arunachal Pradesh already has more than 80 percent forest cover, making it difficult to find sufficient degraded forest areas for all ongoing and upcoming development projects. He added that large areas of land are required for compensatory afforestation linked to infrastructure projects such as hydropower plants, transmission lines, and the Frontier Highway, and these requirements cannot always be fulfilled within the state. Meanwhile, the Subansiri Upper project has faced procedural delays in recent months. In December 2025, NHPC temporarily closed its office in Upper Subansiri district after the environmental public hearing for the project was cancelled more than once following protests by local organisations, including the All Tagin Students’ Union. On the other hand, key preparatory processes for the Kamala Hydroelectric Project, including the pre-feasibility report, social impact assessment, and environmental impact assessment, have already been completed.
