NEWS – The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) granted in-principle approval to the 2,000 MW Sharavati Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Project is located in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats, impacting the Sharavati Valley Lion-tailed Macaque Sanctuary, home to ~700 endangered lion-tailed macaques.
• Land Involved:
  • From sanctuary: 42.51 ha forest + 60.53 ha non-forest land.
  • From eco-sensitive zone: 11.64 ha forest + 28.07 ha non-forest land.
• Technology & Construction: Project includes underground turbines and pipelines linking Talakalale and Gerusoppa dams.
• Environmental Concerns:
  • Requires felling of ~15,000 trees.
  • Activists argue mitigation measures, like afforestation, cannot compensate for forest loss.
  • NBWL claims ~12,000 trees can be saved by redesigning underground access roads.
• Conditions Imposed: NBWL set 24 conditions, including:
  • No labour camps in forests,
  • Restricted construction timings,
  • Wildlife signage,
  • Waste management protocols.