Pumped storage project in Sharavathy Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary gets condition approval

Approval for Sharavathy Pumped Storage Project in Western Ghats raises concerns over environmental impact on wildlife habitat.

In a move expected to rile environmentalists working to conserve green cover in the Western Ghats, the State Board of Wildlife on Tuesday (January 28, 2025) gave conditional approval for the Sharavathy Pumped Storage Project in the Sharavathy Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary.

While Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL)’s original proposal involved uprooting about 16,000 trees in the evergreen forests, the Board gave a green signal to the project, which is now expected to uproot 7,000 to 8,000 trees.

The approval was given during the Board meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here on Tuesday. The proposal will now be sent to the Central Wildlife Board for approval. The Central Electricity Authority had earlier approved the Detailed Project Report of the nearly ₹8,000 crore project.

The area around the Sharavathi project is inhabited by the endangered Lion-Tailed Macaque, which requires a tree canopy for their movement and survival, and the project is expected to put stress on the species that has been affected due to forest degradation in recent years. The project covers regions in Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada districts.

Government sources said Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre also highlighted the problem that would be caused to the Lion-Tailed Macaques with the destruction of about 16,000 trees over 125 acres of thick forest and about 245 acres of non-forest area. Sources said most of the trees are expected to go for the right of the way for the project, which is expected to have a capacity to generate 2,000 MW. “It is a conditional approval for the project,” sources defended, even as greens cried foul over the decision.

Akhilesh Chippali, an environmentalist who has opposed the project, said, “Forget 7,000 or 8,000 trees; not even seven trees should be allowed to be cut in the core area of the wildlife sanctuary. When there are many viable alternative eco-friendly ways to generate 2,000 MW of power, the government is pushing for this only  because of the money involved.”

Further, he stated that the people of Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga, who have been opposing the project, would continue to protest and, if necessary, move the court as well. “The project disturbs the wildlife, causes fragmentation of habitat, causes irreparable damage to the forest,” he added.