A decision on whether to allow the developer of the project, , Etalin Hydropower Project to go ahead with the project in one of the most biodiverse Himalayan zones, is expected to be taken on Thursday at a meeting of the Union environment ministry's Forest Advisory Committee (FAC).
A sub-committee of the FAC has recommended giving clearance to the project with a condition that the developer deposits money for wildlife conservation in the area.
According to a Wildlife Institute of India (WII) study 413 variety of plants, 159 species of butterflies, 113 kinds of spider, 14 amphibians, 31 reptiles, 230 birds and 21 mammalian species are living within the project area.