Clearances and Committees

Hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh require multi-level approvals and are monitored through several specialized committees ensuring environmental, social, and technical compliance.

Clearance Framework

Multi-Level Approvals

Projects progress through sequential clearances:

1. Environmental Clearance (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)
2. Forest Clearance (Forest Department, Government of India)
3. Wildlife Clearance (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)
4. LADF Approval (State Level Monitoring Committee)
5. Operational Clearance (Ministry of Power)

Oversight Committees

Concession Committee

Function: Grant hydropower concessions through transparent bidding

Composition:

• Chief Secretary (Chair)
• Secretary, Water Resources
• Secretary, Forest
• DHPD Commissioner
• Government Representatives
• Technical Experts

Responsibilities:

• Project bidding management
• Developer evaluation
• Concession agreement finalization
• Performance conditions setting
• Dispute resolution

Authority: Final decision on concession award

Download Concession Committee Order (PDF)

State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC)

Function: Project-specific environmental and social compliance monitoring

Composition:

• District Collector (Chair)
• DHPD representative
• Forest Department representative
• Environment Department representative
• Project developer
• NGO representative
• Community representatives

Responsibilities:

• Environmental compliance verification
• Social safeguard implementation monitoring
• LADF management oversight
• Grievance redressal
• Compliance reporting
• Site inspections and verification

Frequency: Quarterly meetings, monthly site inspections

Jurisdiction: Project-specific from concession to operation

Download SLMC Guidelines (PDF)

State Technical and Empowered Committee (STEC)

Function: Technical review and clearance recommendations

Established: Committee Order 2021

Composition:

• Chief Secretary / Secretary (Chair)
• DHPD Commissioner
• Chief Engineers
• Environmental experts
• Social experts
• Technical consultants

Responsibilities:

• Technical design review
• Environmental assessment evaluation
• Social impact assessment
• Clearance recommendation
• Exception/exemption consideration
• Technical dispute resolution

Authority: Makes technical recommendations to approving ministry

Download STEC Committee Order 2021 (PDF)

Standing Committee for 13 Projects

Function: Coordinate and monitor specific project cluster (13 strategic projects)

Composition:

• DHPD Commissioner (Chair)
• Project-specific Chief Engineers
• Developer representatives
• Technical consultants
• Government liaison officers

Responsibilities:

• Project-cluster coordination
• Schedule management
• Infrastructure integration
• Benefit sharing
• Cross-project issues resolution
• Cumulative impact management

Scope: 13 major hydropower projects in strategic basins

Download Standing Committee Order (PDF)

Steering Committee for 13 Projects

Function: High-level policy oversight for strategic project cluster

Composition:

• Chief Minister / Deputy Chief Minister (Chair)
• Cabinet Ministers
• Chief Secretary
• DHPD Commissioner
• Project developers
• Central Ministry representatives

Responsibilities:

• Strategic policy decisions
• Inter-ministerial coordination
• Infrastructure planning
• Fund allocation
• Issue escalation resolution
• Performance review

Authority: Policy-level decision making for project cluster

Download Steering Committee Order (PDF)

Steering Committee for Small HEP

Function: Support and oversee small and mini hydropower projects

Scope: Projects below 25 MW capacity

Composition:

• DHPD Commissioner (Chair)
• CE Planning
• Development experts
• Community representatives
• NGO representatives

Responsibilities:

• Small project facilitation
• Technical support
• Environmental compliance
• Community engagement
• Streamlined approvals
• Performance monitoring

Features:

• Simplified approval procedures
• Local developer support
• Community-friendly approach
• Faster timelines
• Affordable implementation

Download Steering Committee Small HEP (PDF)

Clearance Process Timeline

Project Identification (0-3 months)

• Basin study findings
• Project selection
• Initial screening

Concession Bidding (3-6 months)

• Concession Committee notification
• Bidding process
• Developer selection
• Agreement execution

Feasibility Stage (6-18 months)

• Detailed design preparation
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Social Impact Assessment
• Community consultations
• R&R planning

Clearance Stage (18-36 months)

• Environmental clearance (6-12 months)
• Forest clearance (3-6 months)
• Wildlife clearance (3-6 months)
• Other approvals (3-6 months)

Construction Start (36+ months)

• All clearances in place
• R&R plan approved
• Infrastructure ready
• Financial closure
• Construction begins

Compliance Monitoring

Monitoring Phases

Pre-Construction:

• Land acquisition compliance
• Environmental baseline establishment
• R&R readiness verification
• Community awareness programs

During Construction (Monthly/Quarterly):

• Schedule progress
• Environmental compliance
• Social safeguard implementation
• LADF utilization
• Grievance resolution
• Quality assurance

Operation Phase (Quarterly/Annual):

• Environmental management
• Social benefit delivery
• LADF implementation
• Performance benchmarking
• Long-term sustainability

Monitoring Reports

• Quarterly: SLMC meeting notes and action items
• Semi-annual: Compliance status reports
• Annual: Comprehensive compliance audit
• Environmental: Annual environmental audits
• Social: Annual social impact assessments

Grievance Redressal Mechanism

Levels of Grievance Redressal

Level 1: Project Developer

• First point of contact
• Local resolution attempt
• 15-day response target

Level 2: District Collector

• Escalation if developer unsatisfactory
• District-level review
• 30-day resolution target

Level 3: SLMC

• Multi-stakeholder review
• Technical assessment
• 60-day resolution

Level 4: DHPD Commissioner

• Final state-level decision
• Policy interpretation
• Appeal resolution

Grievance Categories

• Environmental impact issues
• Social impact and resettlement
• LADF utilization concerns
• Employment opportunities
• Community benefit delivery
• Contract matters
• Compensation disputes

Committee Documents Download

• Concession Committee
• State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC)
• STEC Committee Order 2021
• Standing Committee 13 Projects
• Steering Committee 13 Projects
• Steering Committee Small HEP

Contact for Clearance Information

Commissioner, DHPD Email: commrdhpd.arn@gmail.com Phone: 8731931119 (PIO)

Civil Secretariat, Itanagar - 791111

Related Resources

• Legal Framework
• Hydropower Policy
• LADF Guidelines
• Project Documents