Public Hearing Held for 680 MW Athunli Hydro Project in Arunachal's Dibang Valley

ITANAGAR: A public hearing for the proposed 680 MW Athunli Hydro Electric Project in Arunachal Pradesh's Dibang Valley district was successfully conducted on Wednesday at Anini — clearing a critical statutory hurdle in the project's journey towards environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The hearing was organised by the Arunachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) and chaired by Dibang Valley Deputy Commissioner Bekir Nyorak.

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The proceedings at Anini drew active participation from local residents, project-affected families (PAFs), and other stakeholders — reflecting a wide community engagement with a project that could significantly reshape the region's energy and economic landscape.

During the hearing, the project consultant presented a detailed overview based on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The presentation covered the project's key technical features, proposed environmental safeguards, and the anticipated socio-economic benefits for Dibang Valley and the surrounding region.

In a notable development, members of the project-affected families came out in support of the project during the hearing, voicing hope for its timely implementation and early commissioning.

Their backing is significant at this stage of the clearance process, as community sentiment often plays an important role in how regulators assess the social impact of large infrastructure projects.

Wednesday's public hearing represents a key statutory step in the environmental clearance process. The inputs gathered — including community feedback, objections if any, and the EIA findings — will now feed into the review process at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change before a final clearance decision is made.

The 680 MW Athunli project, if commissioned, would add substantially to Arunachal Pradesh's hydropower capacity — a sector the state has long positioned as central to its development strategy.