Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project faces opposition, seer demands minister clarification on environmental concerns and project details
Shivamogga
Bangaramakki seer Sri Maruti Guruji has demanded that Karnataka Energy Minister K.J. George issue a public clarification regarding his recent statements on the proposed Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project, alleging that the minister had misled the public about the project.
Addressing a press conference in Shivamogga, the seer claimed that several expert reports and environmental studies had advised against undertaking major projects in the ecologically sensitive Sharavathi valley. He said the Western Ghats, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, host rare biodiversity and should be protected from large-scale developmental activities.
The seer referred to earlier environmental assessments, including the Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports, and said multiple studies had highlighted the ecological significance of the region. He argued that the proposed project could cause irreversible environmental damage and questioned the need for additional dams when several already exist in the area.
He also raised concerns over the rehabilitation of families displaced by the Linganamakki project, alleging that many were yet to receive proper compensation. Initiating another large infrastructure project before resolving pending rehabilitation issues, he said, would be unjust.
Questioning the project’s technical and economic viability, the seer claimed the pumped storage scheme would consume more electricity than it generates. He suggested that solar, wind and battery storage technologies offered more sustainable alternatives for meeting future energy needs. He also alleged that survey activities and other preliminary work had begun despite legal and environmental issues remaining unresolved.
Environmental experts and activists who addressed the press conference echoed similar concerns, alleging that the project would require extensive forest land, affect thousands of trees and involve large-scale blasting with potential ecological consequences. They urged the government to hold an open public discussion involving environmental scientists, local communities and independent experts before proceeding further.
The activists also called upon the state government to suspend all project-related activities until statutory environmental clearances are obtained and public concerns are adequately addressed.
