{
  "id": 15910906,
  "title": "NHPC seeks Forest clearance to fell over 23 lakh trees for hydel project in Arunachal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/nhpc-seeks-forest-clearance-to-fell-over-23-lakh-trees-for-hydel",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T15:58:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kamala-hydel-project-arunachal-pradesh-forest-clearance-nhpc-10931256/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has submitted a request to the Union Environment Ministry for clearance to clear over 23 lakh trees in high-conservation-value forest in Arunachal Pradesh for its Kamala hydroelectric project. The 1,720 MW project aims to harness the waters of the Kamala River, a right-bank tributary of the Subansiri River. The Environment Ministry's Forest Advisory Committee will review the forest diversion proposal on October 23. If approved, the diversion will involve felling 23.4 lakh trees, of which 15.08 lakh are in the Hapoli forest division and 8.31 lakh in the Kra Daadi division. Compensatory afforestation of 7,018 hectares has been proposed in Madhya Pradesh for the forest diversion. The Kamala project is one of several planned hydel projects in the Subansiri River basin, and the site does not fall within any protected areas. However, the project is expected to affect habitats of various wildlife and increase the submerged area, potentially impacting the migration of wild animals. The project also requires the resettlement of 5,440 families in 126 villages.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}