Pumped storage project in Sharavathi valley may cause decline in LTM population: DCF report

Bengaluru: As conservationists up their ante against the proposed Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project in the heart of the Lion Tailed Macaque (LTM) sanctuary, officials who conducted the site inspection have noted that the works will impact their life and "may cause decline in LTM population".

Of the 352.77 acre required for the project, 133.81 acre is forest area. Within the forest, 69.01 acre in the Shivamogga Wildlife Division is part of the core area of the Lion Tailed Macaque Sanctuary, while another 28.77 acre in the Sagar Division falls within the eco-sensitive zone of the sanctuary. As per the recent population estimation conducted in 2022-23, the sanctuary hosts "single largest population of 730 individuals".

The deputy conservator of Forest, Shivamogga Wildlife Division noted that the proposed project "may disturb the habitat and lead to decline in their population". The formation of new roads, tunnels, power house and other works in the evergreen forests of the sanctuary will also require "felling of more than 15,000 trees, including rare, endangered and threatened species of trees," he added as he listed some of the negative impacts.

"(The project works) may restrict the movement of the arboreal species of the mammals, especially Lion-tailed Macaque, a flagship and endangered species of the sanctuary. It is expected to cause behavioural changes and characteristics of the species," the report said.

The officer flagged the disturbance during and after the construction work: "Drilling and blasting of sub surface rocks for the entire period during the formation of the tunnels, the regular movement of vehicles and personnel during construction phase of the project and during the entire life of the project for operation and maintenance of machineries and equipment. The seismic aberrations can potentially disturb the wildlife habitat and behaviour."

The officer also listed the "positive" aspects of the project as argued by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) and sent "in-principle recommendation" while leaving the decision making to the higher ups.

The DCF, Sagar division and Honnavar division, also submitted their respective reports which had entire sections, including the recommendation, that seemed to have been lifted from the letter of the Shimoga wildlife DCF.

Activist Giridhar Kulkarni noted that if the project is implemented, "it will cause irreplaceable damage to the Sharavathi valley and its flora, fauna especially Lion Tailed Macaques".