Several organisations have categorically opposed granting of clean development mechanism (CDM) credit under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to the 780-MW Nyamjang Chhu hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district, bordering China.c
Under UNFCCC, CDM projects in developing countries can earn certified emission reduction credit, which is saleable and can be used by industrialized countries to meet part of their emission reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol. A private project developer involved in the construction of Nyamjang Chhu project has submitted a proposal to UNFCCC for considering the project for CDM credit.
The protesting organisations - Arunachal's Save Mon Region Federation (SMRF), Assam's Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and Rural Volunteers Centre (RVC), Manipur's Citizens Committee on Dams and Development (CCDD) and New Delhi's South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People (SANDRP) - have argued that the project would actually emerge as an emitter of greenhouse gases resulting from tree felling, submergence of forest and organic matter, boring of tunnels, sudden release of water from powerhouses and emissions from movement of vehicles. They said over 9,000 trees will be felled in 89 hectare of forest land for the project.