Why in news?
The environment ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has deferred its decision on granting forest clearance to:
- Hydropower Project in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley
- The exploration of Uranium in Telangana’s Amrabad Tiger Reserve
Details
- An FAC subcommittee report on April 21 recommended that the Etalin Hydroelectric Project, which will involve clearing 270,000 trees, be allowed with a condition that the developer deposits money for wildlife conservation in the area.
- Now, FAC has asked the power ministry to say whether the project is viable in its current form.
- It also directed Arunachal Pradesh to submit a cost-benefit analysis of the project.
- On the uranium exploration in Amrabad Tiger Reserve, FAC has sought a clear view from Telangana.
Forest Advisory Committee (FAC)
- Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) is a Statutory Body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
- FAC was constituted by the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
- It plays an advisory role in questions on the diversion of forest land for non-forest uses such as mining, industrial projects, townships and advises the government on the issue of granting forest clearances.
Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary
- The Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the eight wildlife sanctuaries of Arunachal Pradesh, India.
- Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary is located fully or partly within Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve.
- Rare mammals such as Mishmi Takin, Red Goral, Musk Deer (at least two species), red panda, Asiatic black bear, occasional Tiger and Gongshan muntjac occur while among birds there are the rare Sclater’s monal and Blyth’s tragopan.
-Source: Hindustan Times
