Expert Panel Recommends Dropping ₹10,000 Crore Sharavathi Project; Centre Informs Karnataka High Court
Committee cites severe ecological risks to the Sharavathi Valley sanctuary and questions the technical viability of the proposed pumped storage project.
In a significant development, the Union Government has informed the Karnataka High Court that an expert committee constituted by the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has recommended scrapping the proposed ₹10,000 crore Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project.
During the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K.S. Hemalekha, Additional Solicitor General K. Aravind Kamath submitted the committee’s report. The petition challenging the project was filed by environmental activists Akhilesh Chipli, Dr. Ravindranath Shanbhogue and C.B. Manohar Kumar.
The proposed 2,000 MW project is located within the ecologically sensitive Sharavathi Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary and its Eco-Sensitive Zone spread across Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada districts. According to the committee, the project would result in extensive habitat fragmentation and irreversible ecological damage to one of the country’s most important habitats for the endangered lion-tailed macaque. The region also serves as a crucial wildlife corridor linking the Anshi-Dandeli and Bhadra-Kudremukh forest landscapes.
The committee further questioned the technical and economic feasibility of the project, noting that it would not generate additional electricity but merely shift power usage. As per the report, the project would consume around 2,500 MW of electricity to pump water uphill and generate only 2,000 MW during peak demand periods, resulting in a net energy loss.
The panel also pointed out alleged discrepancies in project documents, stating that existing transmission infrastructure would be inadequate to handle the proposed load. Considering the limited benefits and significant environmental consequences, the committee advised against granting statutory clearances to the project.
Taking note of the report, the Karnataka High Court observed that the National Board for Wildlife is yet to take a final decision and extended its interim stay on all project-related activities until the next hearing scheduled for October 10.