Where’s the urgency for the 2,000 MW Sharavati PSP in Western Ghats?

By Shankar Sharma*

A recent news article has raised credible concerns about the techno-economic clearance granted by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for a large Pumped Storage Project (PSP) located within a protected area in the dense Western Ghats of Karnataka. The article, titled "Where is the hurry for the 2,000 MW Sharavati PSP in Western Ghats?", questions the rationale behind this fast-tracked approval for such a massive project in an ecologically sensitive zone.

Environmentalists in Karnataka view this hurried approval as a stark example of the lack of due diligence on the part of multiple regulatory agencies when it comes to endorsing high-impact projects in eco-sensitive areas. Constitutionally mandated agencies like the CEA are expected to scrutinize proposals for such projects, particularly in protected areas, with a comprehensive view of societal welfare—not just through the lens of limited technical parameters.

There is also an undercurrent of corruption allegations tied to this project. Reports suggest that the construction contract may have already been awarded to a private contractor, with a significant advance payment made, even before obtaining essential environmental, wildlife, and forest clearances.

This Sharavati PSP proposal, along with 14 other PSP projects planned for the Western Ghats, has faced widespread criticism from environmentalists throughout the region. These critics see these projects as a violation of the authorities' Constitutional mandate to safeguard the environment. There are serious concerns that these projects will easily clear regulatory hurdles, only to wreak irreversible damage on the Western Ghats, which are recognized for their unique and critical biodiversity.

Many environmentalists have expressed shock that key issues—such as the project’s location within a wildlife sanctuary, the potential destruction of tropical evergreen forests, the low capacity utilization of the PSP, and the availability of more sustainable alternatives—were seemingly overlooked by the CEA when approving the project.

As an electrical engineer and power sector professional with nine years of experience at the CEA, I find it difficult to understand how this project could have been granted techno-economic clearance. Even from a purely economic standpoint, the approval of a PSP of this magnitude appears misguided. It seems evident that a thorough cost-benefit analysis of more credible alternatives, such as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), was not carried out before the clearance was given. Furthermore, it’s clear that domain experts from civil society were not effectively consulted during the decision-making process.

In strategic policy matters like this, it is hard to see how the government’s actions align with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas” (Together with all, Development for all, Trust of all, Effort of all).

Larger national concerns also loom over this issue, with media reports indicating that the Ministry of Power is considering the construction of 115,000 MW of PSPs across the country. This scale of development could lead to incalculable ecological damage, which our already fragile ecosystems may not be able to withstand.

CEA should publish a policy paper justifying the need for PSPs, detailing the costs and benefits relative to alternatives like BESS

Given the lack of a diligently prepared national energy policy from bodies like NITI Aayog, unsubstantiated energy policies—such as the promotion of PSPs, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), gas-based power plants, and large solar and wind farms—are likely to face increasing opposition from civil society groups. These projects, along with new coal mines and transmission lines, raise serious questions about their long-term environmental and economic impacts.

It is imperative that the Union government takes these concerns seriously and applies effective course corrections before public trust in the regulatory agencies erodes further. Unfortunately, none of the responsible agencies or ministries have provided satisfactory responses to the issues raised by civil society, and there is no clarity on why experts from these groups are consistently excluded from discussions on such critical matters.

As a first step, the CEA should publish a policy paper justifying the need for PSPs, detailing the costs and benefits relative to alternatives like BESS, and explaining how the national electricity supply-demand scenario could be addressed through demand-side management (DSM) and other measures. The paper should also discuss how PSPs can be justified in the context of India’s rapidly degrading forest and river ecosystems, which are already in an alarming state of decline.

Addressing the issues raised in representations to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) about the Sharavati PSP, as well as the broader relevance of PSPs for India, would be a crucial step toward finding a more balanced and sustainable energy policy.

---

*Power & Climate Policy Analyst, Karnataka. This article is based on the author’s representation to the Union Minister for Power

Comments

Defeat of martial law: Has the decisive moment for change come in South Korea?

By Steven Lee Late at night on December 3, soldiers stormed into South Korea’s National Assembly in armored vehicles and combat helicopters. Assembly staff desperately blocked their assault with fire extinguishers and barricades. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol had just declared martial law to “ eliminate ‘anti-state’ forces .”

70,000 migrants, sold on Canadian dream, face uncertain future: Canada reinvents the xenophobic wheel

By Saurav Sarkar* Bikram Singh is running out of time on his post-study work visa in Canada. Singh is one of about 70,000 migrants who were sold on the Canadian dream of eventually making the country their home but now face an uncertain future with their work permits set to expire by December 2024. They came from places like India, China, and the Philippines, and sold their land and belongings in their home countries, took out loans, or made other enormous commitments to get themselves to Canada.

A groundbreaking non-violent approach: Maharishi’s invincible defense technology

By MajGen (R) Kulwant Singh, Col (R) SP Bakshi, Col (R) Jitendra Jung Karki, LtCol (R) Gunter Chassé & Dr David Leffler* In today’s turbulent world, achieving lasting peace and ensuring national security are more urgent than ever. Traditional defense methods focus on advanced weapons, military strategies, and tactics, but a groundbreaking approach offers a new non-violent and holistic solution: Maharishi’s Invincible Defense Technology (IDT).

Govt of India asked to work for release of 217 Indian fishermen detained in Pakistan since 2021

By A Representative Members of the fishing communities from Gujarat and Diu, Union Territory, held a press conference in Ahmedabad, urging the Union Government to take proactive measures to secure the release of Indian fishermen currently detained in Pakistan. Presently, 217 Indian fishermen, mostly from Gujarat and Diu, are held in Pakistan’s Malir Jail. Of these, 53 have been incarcerated since 2021 and 130 since 2022.

This book examines dialectics of complex caste and class relationship

By Harsh Thakor* In Caste and Revolution by N. Ravi, the author addresses questions raised by Dalit and Bahujan intellectuals inspired by revolutionary parties. These questions center on caste issues and seek to formulate a profound diagnosis to chart a path toward the annihilation of caste. The book explains how caste-based feudalism and comprador bureaucratic capitalism intertwine to perpetuate the caste system. It asserts that only the path of a New Democratic Revolution can eradicate caste. The book delves into the need for an equal position for oppressed castes in all layers of society to abolish caste discrimination and oppression. It offers an analytical diagnosis, a penetrating navigation, and a detailed account of the dialectics of caste and class across diverse spheres. Annihilation of Caste and the New Democratic Revolution A revolutionary party develops a perspective document on the caste question, integrating its understanding of caste and the program for caste annih...

34 Dalit families in IIT Kanpur without toilets in Open Defecation Free India

By Sandeep Pandey When Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur was set up in 1959, two villages were uprooted. The farmers were given meagre compensation for the standing crop. No compensation was given for the land to build this institute of national importance. Each family was promised a job but what was not told to them was that one would require specialised skills to get a job at IIT. Some members of these families were, of course, absorbed for menial work. Some washerfolk families were also invited from outside to live on campus to take care of the laundry needs of students, staff and faculty members. One of these men was cajoled by IIT authorities then to forego a regular employment at IIT and instead take up clothes washing work.

प्राकृतिक संसाधनों के दोहन करने की प्रतिस्पर्धा: बढ़ रही पर्यावरणीय और सामाजिक चुनौतियां

- राज कुमार सिन्हा प्राकृतिक संसाधनों और कॉमन्स, जैसे सामुदायिक भूमि, वन, चारागाह और जल निकाय स्थानीय समुदायों के लिए महत्वपूर्ण हैं जो इन संसाधनों पर निर्भर हैं और उनके सतत् उपयोग एवं संरक्षण के लिए पीढ़ियों से प्रयासरत हैं। कॉमन्स न केवल हमारी पारिस्थितिकी को संतुलित रखते हैं, बल्कि ग्रामीण आजीविका, जैव विविधता, और जलवायु अनुकूलन के लिए भी महत्वपूर्ण हैं। दुर्भाग्यवश, हर साल इन संसाधनों में 4% की कमी आ रही है, जिससे पर्यावरणीय और सामाजिक चुनौतियां बढ़ रही हैं। इन कॉमन्स के संरक्षण और पुनरुद्धार के लिए दीर्घकालीन योजना पर कार्य करने की आवश्यकता है। जिससे एक बेहतर, समान और टिकाऊ भविष्य का निर्माण हो सके।

Local businessman subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse: Demand for accountability, justice

By Kirity Roy* On October 9, 2024, a disturbing incident of harassment and abuse took place in the Swarupnagar Block of North 24 Parganas district, involving a local businessman, Hasanur Gazi, who was subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse, and religious discrimination by a Border Security Force (BSF) constable. The incident, which occurred at the Hakimpur Checkpost, has raised serious concerns about the safety and dignity of citizens living in border areas, especially those belonging to religious minorities.

બેટ દ્વારકામાં માત્ર મુસ્લિમ ઘરો અને ધાર્મિક સ્થળો પર બુલડોઝર કાર્યવાહી: તાત્કાલિક રોકવાની માંગ

- પ્રતિનિધિ દ્વારા બેટ દ્વારકામાં મુસ્લિમ સમુદાયના ઘરો અને ધાર્મિક સ્થળો પર તંત્ર દ્વારા થયેલી બુલડોઝર કાર્યવાહી સામે સામાજિક આગેવાનો અને નાગરિકોમાં ભારે વિરોધ જોવા મળી રહ્યો છે. સ્થાનિકોમાંથી કેટલાક દ્વારા ગુજરાતના મુખ્યમંત્રીને લેખિતમાં રજૂઆત કરવામાં આવી છે, જેમાં આ કાર્યવાહી તાત્કાલિક રોકવાની માંગ ઉઠાવવામાં આવી છે.

Search This Blog