Don’t carry out any work on ground for now on Sharavathi pumped storage hydroelectric project, Karnataka High Court directs State government

Karnataka High Court halts work on Sharavathi hydroelectric project over environmental concerns until further notice.

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday (March 10) directed the State government and the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL) not to carry out any work on ground for the ₹10,000 crore Sharavathi pumped storage hydroelectric project in forest areas within the Sharavathi Valley Lion Macaque Sanctuary and its eco-sensitive zone, until further orders.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha passed the interim order on the petition filed by Akhilesh Chipli of Shivamogga and two others.

Earlier, Additional Solicitor General of India K. Arvind Kamath pointed out to the bench that the Union government has some concerns about the project while pointing out that no approval has been given for the project as of now, even though the National Board of Wildlife had given in-principle approval for the project.

However, senior advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, appearing for the KPCL, said that the restrictions imposed under Section 29 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for destruction of sanctuary, will not cause any impediment to take up the proposed project in the sanctuary area as no endangered monkeys are found in the project area within the sanctuary or its eco-sensitive zone.

Meanwhile, State Advocate General K. Shashi Kiran Shetty contended that the petition is premature as the Union government has not yet granted approval for the project.

To a query by the bench on certain preparatory works being carried out in the project area as was claimed in the petition, the A-G said there is no such possibility of taking up works in the absence of approval for the project by the Centre.