Water Use Permissions

Hydropower projects require formal permission for the use of river water, including diversion during construction and regulated flow during operation. Water use permissions are obtained from the Central Water Commission (CWC), state water resources departments, and other relevant authorities.

The department ensures that water use for hydropower projects complies with national and state water policies and respects the rights of downstream users and ecosystems.

Types of Water Permissions

• Permission for river diversion and cofferdam construction during project construction
• Approval for regulated water flow patterns during power generation
• Environmental flow requirements to maintain downstream ecological health
• Coordination with irrigation and drinking water authorities to avoid conflicts

Regulatory Framework

• National Water Policy, 2012 — principles for water allocation and prioritization
• Central Water Commission guidelines on dam design and flood management
• State Water Policy — Arunachal Pradesh's framework for water resource management
• Inter-state water sharing agreements for transboundary rivers

Environmental Flow

• Minimum environmental flow (e-flow) must be maintained downstream of all dams and barrages
• E-flow requirements are specified as part of the Environmental Clearance conditions
• Monitoring of e-flow compliance is conducted by the State Pollution Control Board and CWC
• The department ensures that project designs incorporate e-flow provisions