Site inspection report disfavours Sharavathi project

A site inspection report of the controversial Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project has not recommended the proposal of the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) which seeks diversion of 54.155 hectares of forestland for the project.

A site inspection report of the controversial Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project has not recommended the proposal of the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) which seeks diversion of 54.155 hectares of forestland for the project.

A detailed site inspection, conducted by Praneetha Paul, Deputy Inspector-General of Forest (DIGF) from the Regional Office, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India (MoEF&CC), Bengaluru, has not recommended the proposal for the project citing 15 reasons including presence of Lion Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary.

However, S. Senthil Kumar, Deputy Director-General of Forests, (Central) Regional Office, MoEF&CC, has recommended the proposal, while suggesting that “revision in the design to minimise tree-felling and protect the ecological integrity of the area may be considered”.

Ms. Paul, who was the inspecting officer, in her report, stated that the reason for not recommending the proposal include felling of more than 15,000 trees, many of which are endemic to the Western Ghats.

“Construction of new roads, widening of roads, construction of the surge shaft, adits, pot head yards, power evacuation etc would result in complete destruction of the wet evergreen forests of canopy density ranging from 0.7 to 1,” the report states as one of the reasons.

It further states that the felling of 15,000 trees would result in further fragmentation and creation of isolated populations of the Lion Tailed Macaque (LTM) and other endemic species which may eventually lead to its extinction. “Alternate CA land proposed, being a shola grassland, will not be able to compensate for the loss of habitat of the LTM,” it said.

It also said that as the ecological fallout far outweighs the economic benefits that may be accrued by commissioning this project, “it is recommended that the project should not be approved.” The inspection was conducted between May 1 and May 9, 2025.