A significant meeting took place in Shivamogga on Saturday, where a coalition of environmentalists and activists presented their grave concerns to a high-level committee from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The focus of their apprehension is the proposed 2000 MW Sharavathi pumped storage project, which they argue poses an existential threat to the region's fragile ecology and rich cultural heritage.
High-Level Meeting and Site Visit
The delegation met with NBWL standing committee members Raman Sukumar and Harishankar Singh, who were accompanied by Shivakumar CM, the inspector general of forests for the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The activists presented detailed arguments against the project's current plan. To gain first-hand perspective, the official team also conducted a visit to the proposed project site on Sunday.
During the meeting, the committee heard compelling presentations from experts. Power analyst Shankar Sharma and retired professor LK Sripathi laid out the technical and environmental case against the venture. The activists' core argument is that the project's design, involving extensive tunnelling, blasting, and construction, will irreversibly damage the Sharavathi Valley.
Threats to Heritage and Endangered Species
Renowned archaeologist Ajay Kumar Sharma highlighted a critical legal and cultural violation. He stated that the project flouts guidelines set by the National Monument Authority by endangering both ASI-protected monuments and undocumented archaeological remains in Gerusoppa. This historic town was once the capital of Rani Chennabhairadevi.
"The proposed project poses significant risks to the ecologically-fragile landscape and cultural heritage sites," Sharma asserted. He further criticized the environmental impact assessment (EIA) as being wholly inadequate for a project of this magnitude and sensitivity.
The concerns extend beyond historical structures to unique biodiversity. Dr. Savinaya raised the alarm about the project's direct threat to Friesodielsia sahyadrica, a critically endangered tree species. Shockingly, this tree is found exclusively in Gerusoppa, with a surviving population of only about 150 individuals.
Calls for Rejection and Alternative Solutions
Shravan from the Green Lives Trust presented a legal perspective, arguing that the project contravenes the Wildlife Protection Act. He emphasized that viable and less destructive alternatives exist, such as ramping up solar power generation and implementing battery energy storage systems.
The pushback culminated in a formal submission. A group of at least a dozen activists, including Akilesh Chipli, Girish Jenny, and Vinayak, handed over a memorandum to the NBWL committee. Their demands are clear:
- Immediate rejection of the wildlife clearance for the project.
- Commissioning of a comprehensive archaeological and heritage impact assessment before any reconsideration of the proposal.
The ball is now in the court of the National Board for Wildlife. The committee's response to these detailed concerns regarding the Sharavathi pumped storage project will be closely watched by conservationists and local communities alike.
