Credit: Special Arrangement
Bengaluru: Despite clear directions to prevent the felling of over 12,000 trees in the Sharavathi Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque (LTM) Sanctuary, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has announced that it will hold a public hearing on the controversial Pumped Storage Project (PSP) in September.
The project, proposed by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), aims to generate 2,000 MW of electricity during peak hours by constructing a network of underground tunnels and a powerhouse between the Talakalale (upper dam) and Gerusoppa (lower dam).
To execute the project, KPCL has sought 352.77 acres of land, which includes 133.81 acres of forest and 218.95 acres of private holdings spread across the Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga districts.
According to a notice issued by the KSPCB, the public hearing in Uttara Kannada district will take place on September 18 at the Shri Gutti Kannika Parameshwari Nagaradevi Kalyana Mantapa in Uppinagoli, Gerusoppa post, Honnavar taluk. However, there is still no clarity regarding the hearing in Shivamogga, though the KSPCB website tentatively lists September 16 as the date.
Conservationists and wildlife activists have strongly opposed the project, warning that it would involve the felling of 16,041 trees and blasting of fragile hills to create tunnels and approach roads in an ecologically sensitive sanctuary established to protect the endangered Lion-Tailed Macaques. Critics have also pointed out that KPCL has not submitted full details of the potential impact of the transmission infrastructure, accusing the corporation of forcing a fait accompli situation on the regulatory authorities.
Earlier this month, the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC)—the highest statutory authority under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change—had asked the Karnataka government to explore alternatives to save as many trees as possible. Referring to recommendations made by the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL), the FAC deferred its decision and directed the state’s nodal officer to provide a detailed response.
The NBWL had suggested converting one of the proposed roads into an underground tunnel and modifying another structure, steps that could save nearly 12,500 trees. The FAC also emphasised that the state must address issues flagged by a regional office site inspection report before pushing the project forward.
As per the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, public hearings are a mandatory step to ensure “widest possible public participation” in project-affected districts. Public feedback is considered crucial before any environmental clearance is granted.
Sagar-based environmental activist Akhilesh Chipli argued that the government was bypassing due process.
“The FAC’s recommendations require major revisions in the impact assessment reports. Without incorporating these directions, pushing the project ahead is unjustifiable. This is not about energy security; it is a contractor-driven project that threatens wildlife and undermines the livelihoods of people dependent on the Western Ghats,” he said.
KSPCB officials were unavailable for comment.