Karnataka’s proposed pumped storage project in Sharavathi Valley sparks ecological outcry

By A Representative

The Karnataka government’s plan to construct a 2,000 MW pumped storage project (PSP) within the Sharavathi Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque (LTM) Sanctuary has drawn sharp criticism from environmentalists, power sector professionals, and civil society groups. The project, which aims to address peak electricity demand, involves submerging 350 acres of pristine tropical rainforest in the Western Ghats, a UNESCO-recognized biodiversity hotspot. Critics argue the move threatens endangered species, including the endemic Lion-Tailed Macaque and Deccan Mahseer fish, while ignoring viable alternatives like battery storage systems.

Environmentalists highlight the sanctuary’s ecological significance, emphasizing its role as a critical habitat for rare flora and fauna. The sanctuary’s dense evergreen forests, vital for carbon sequestration and water security, also serve as a wildlife corridor. The proposed project’s infrastructure—including tunnels, reservoirs, and transmission lines—risks fragmenting habitats, disrupting ecosystems, and polluting the Sharavathi River. Concerns are compounded by reports that the State Wildlife Board approved the project without reviewing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) or transmission plans, raising allegations of procedural opacity and political pressure.

Power sector analyst Shankar Sharma, with over four decades of experience, criticized the project’s justification, citing a pre-feasibility report that claims an implausible benefit-cost ratio of 2,643. He argues the calculation ignores capital costs, energy losses from pumping water (24% more consumed than generated), and long-term ecological damage. Sharma advocates for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), pointing to Tamil Nadu’s recent approval of six BESS units (500 MW/1,000 MWh) to store renewable energy. “BESS can meet peak demand without destroying forests. Karnataka’s insistence on ecologically destructive PSPs is baffling when cleaner alternatives exist,” he stated.

The state government defends the project as essential to meet rising peak electricity demand, which has surged 62% since 2011. However, opponents stress that demand management, grid efficiency improvements, and decentralized solar solutions could reduce reliance on costly infrastructure. They also note Karnataka’s fragile environmental status, with 73% of its land arid or drought-prone and forest cover at just 22% against a national target of 33%.

The controversy reflects broader tensions between development and conservation in Karnataka, where over 20 linear projects in the Western Ghats threaten 2 million trees. Environmentalists warn that destroying high-value forests exacerbates climate vulnerabilities, undermining the state’s constitutional mandate to protect ecosystems.

Sharma, who has repeatedly petitioned the Chief Secretary and Environment Ministry, urged a techno-economic review of PSPs versus BESS. “Trust in governance erodes when projects escape scrutiny and public concerns are dismissed,” he said, offering to present his findings to authorities. The project now awaits National Wildlife Board clearance, with activists planning legal challenges citing violations of wildlife and forest rights laws.

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