Public hearing for Sharavathy project on September 16, 18

Bengaluru: The public hearing for the Sharavathy pumped storage project in Shivamogga district will be held on September 16, two days before the hearing scheduled in Uttara Kannada district.

The 2,000 MW project has been proposed by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) in the Sharavathy Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary. The project is expected to result in the felling of about 15,000 trees.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the nodal agency to conduct the hearing, has issued a public notice saying the hearing will be held at KPCL Officials' Recreation Club, Kargal Post, Sagar taluk, at 11 am.

In Uttara Kannada district, the hearing will be on September 18 at Gutti Kannika Parameshwari Nagaradevi Kalyana Mantapa, Uppinagoli, Honnavar taluk. Activists said crucial details about the project remain unclear. 

Recommendations to explore alternatives to save over 12,000 trees appear to have been set aside in the rush to push through the hearing.