In MM Hills, forest dept flouts rules to help power projects

Bengaluru: The Forest Department has rammed through objections by its own field officers to facilitate a small hydro project in Shivanasamudra of Malai Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Division by illegally subleasing forest in a crucial elephant range at a time wildlife conflicts have exploded in the area.

In October 2005, the Forest Department issued an order diverting about 12 acres of forests upstream of Shivanasamudra falls in Sattegala for Pioneer Power Corporation Ltd’s 24.75 MW hydel plant. The land was leased for 20 years with a strict condition that unutilised land shall be taken back by the forest department.

Documents reviewed by DH show that the forest department not only failed to recover land unused by Pioneer Power Corporation but is now enabling setting up a 24.75 MW plant by another company Balaji Cauvery Power Pvt Ltd, claiming exemption from EIA on the grounds that it is below 25 MW.

Sources said a detailed report of a field officer was binned to facilitate the “irregularities”.

In October 2024, the then Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Division, B Santosh Kumar, who visited the site, highlighted the violation of the government order on recovering unused land. He also explained how the project will be a disaster for elephants.

“During the field visit, it was found that elephants roam freely in this area ... The number of elephant conflict incidents may increase with this project and chances for crop loss, human injury and death of humans by elephant in future are high,” Santosh Kumar stated, adding that the proposal was “not recommended” for clearance.

However, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Forest Conservation) Brijesh Kumar, “advised” the DCF “re-look into the proposal and submit a clear opinion”. “A potential of power generation is being allowed to go unused. On the other hand, the state is having power shortage,” he said.

Y Chakrapani, who took over as the DCF of MM Hills Wildlife Division recently, revised the recommendation on the advice of the superiors.

“The approval for re-diversion (sublease) of forest land in favour of M/s Balaji Cauvery Power Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, is subject to successful renewal of original lease...,” Chakrapani said in his report filed in March 2025.

Brijesh Kumar and Chakrapani did not respond to queries. Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre said he will look into the matter. “I will go through the file and decide on the matter,” he said.

Documents show that in 2017, the then chief conservator had specifically warned against allowing more mini or small hydro projects in the area, noting that it would lead to wildlife conflict. Conflict with elephants accounted for 65% of over 50,000 wildlife conflict incidents annually in recent years.

A senior officer told DH that nodal officer’s suggestion not only goes against the conditions stipulated by the government order, but flies in the face of the efforts to limit elephant conflict.

“To mitigate elephant conflicts, the government is spending Rs 53.2 crore to set up an elephant soft release centre. On the other, here the department laying down the red carpet for more damage to the elephant’s natural habitat,” he noted.

In 2015, the State Board of Wildlife had rejected a proposal in the same spot after a sub-committee reported that the should not be allowed. “Any further increase of activity in the area will not be desirable from the point of wildlife conservation. There should be no renewal of lease,” the sub-committee had said.

The government’s indiscriminate awarding of power projects in the area has already led to an increase in the elephant conflicts in Hanur, Bharachukki and many villages in the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.