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EAC Recommends Green Nod for 1,605 MW Subansiri Upper Project; 1.35 Lakh Trees at Risk

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
25 Sept 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:1605 MW2733 ha135733 trees5466 ha237 m dam22.2 sq km
Bodies:Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)NHPCSupreme Court of IndiaNational Board for Wildlife
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of MoEFCC recommended environmental clearance for Subansiri Upper Hydro Project (SUHEP), subject to Stage-1 forest clearance under Forest Conservation Act.

2.Project requires diversion of 2,733 hectares of forest land and felling of approximately 1,35,733 trees, with potential impacts on forest structure, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.

3.Compensatory afforestation proposed on 5,466 hectares of degraded forest land across 14 districts of Madhya Pradesh, as no equivalent non-forest land available in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The EAC's recommendation for environmental clearance to the 1,605 MW Subansiri Upper Hydro Project highlights the tension between hydropower development and forest conservation. Key issues include diversion of 2,733 hectares of forest land, felling of 1.35 lakh trees, and compensatory afforestation in MP. This is crucial for UPSC Mains GS3 (Environment, Infrastructure) and Prelims (Forest Conservation Act, EAC).

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Project Capacity1,605 MW
Forest Land Diversion2,733 hectares
Trees to be Felled1,35,733
Compensatory Afforestation Area5,466 hectares (degraded forest)
Dam Height237 m from deepest foundation level
Reservoir Area at FRL22.2 sq km
Households Affected (Lower Project)1,139
Other Projects in CascadeOju (2,220 MW), Subansiri Lower (2,000 MW), Dibang (2,880 MW)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Project Capacity: 1,605 MW
  • ›Forest Land Diversion: 2,733 hectares
  • ›Target this Data: 1,605 MW capacity, 2,733 ha forest land, 1,35,733 trees, 5,466 ha compensatory afforestation, 237 m dam height, 22.2 sq km reservoir, 1,139 households affected (Lower project).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under MoEFCC; project proponent NHPC.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Forest Conservation Act, 1980; Supreme Court directive (August 2009) regarding upstream projects.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which company is the project proponent for the Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project (SUHEP)?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project (SUHEP):

1. The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommended environmental clearance for the project.

2. Compensatory afforestation for the project is proposed to be carried out in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

3. The Supreme Court in August 2009 directed that any proposal on the upper stream of the Subansiri River would be considered independently on its own merit.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

What is the installed capacity of the Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project (SUHEP) as mentioned in the article?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What are the two stated objectives of the Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project as per the article?

All 15 MCQs ▸
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