MoEFCC rejects forest clearance for Sharavathi hydro project; cites landslide risk, Western Ghats damage
BENGALURU: The recently submitted site inspection report by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of India (MoEFCC) on the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project in Shivamogga district stated that the project cannot be cleared as the compensatory land offered is not adequate. Moreover, the project will lead to major landslides and destruction of the Western Ghats.
The report has come at a time when the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority has listed Shivamogga as one of the districts vulnerable to landslides and floods with increasing development activities.
'As the project involves steep slope-cutting of up to 60 degrees, formation of new roads, widening of existing roads, felling of over 15,000 trees and blasting of sub-surface rocks, high rainfall coupled with exposure of steep slopes and soil would make the region vulnerable to landslides,' the report said
The project will have two reservoirs. Drilling and blasting of rocks for the construction of 500-metre deep 3.2km nine-diametre underground tunnels will be disastrous not only for the ecology, but also for human habitations, the report stated.
A team from MoEFCC visited the project sites from May 7-9. The state's Energy Department had submitted a proposal to the Karnataka Forest and Environment Department and to MoEFCC seeking clearance for diversion of 54.155 hectares of forestland in Sagar, Shivamogga and Honnavar forest divisions for the project to generate and store 2000MW of power. The project is being executed by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
22 minutes ago
- Mint
Donald Trump warns of ‘economic ruination' if courts block his tariff authority
US President Donald Trump on Monday (June 1) issued a stark warning on his Truth Social platform, claiming that a potential court ruling against his proposed tariff policies could leave the United States vulnerable to foreign economic aggression. Trump framed the issue as one of national survival, warning that a court decision against his proposed tariffs would 'cripple' the country's ability to respond to unfair foreign trade practices. 'If the Courts somehow rule against us on Tariffs, which is not expected,' Trump wrote, adding, 'that would allow other Countries to hold our Nation hostage with their anti-American Tariffs that they would use against us. This would mean the Economic ruination of the United States of America!' The post appears to be a response to growing legal scrutiny over whether the executive branch has the authority to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs, especially as Trump has floated a proposal for a universal 10% tariff. Critics have argued that such tariffs could raise prices for American consumers and trigger retaliatory trade measures from allies and rivals alike. But Trump has consistently defended tariffs as a tool to protect American industry and pressure foreign governments. A legal tug-of-war over President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff plan intensified, as a federal appeals court reinstated the duties temporarily on May 29 just a day after a lower trade court ruled they were unconstitutional. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington issued a temporary stay ruling by the US Court of International Trade, which had blocked Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs. The appeals court ordered plaintiffs to respond by June 5, and the government by June 9, signaling a fast-moving legal showdown. The lower court had concluded that Trump overstepped his authority by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs, arguing that such powers belong to Congress under the Constitution. Trump's controversial tariffs, branded as 'Liberation Day' duties, target imports from most US trading partners. Additional 25% tariffs were also levied on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China, citing their alleged role in the flow of fentanyl into the US. The US Court of International Trade had ruled the IEEPA was not intended to be used for trade policy, noting it was meant to address national emergencies, not to serve as a tool for imposing broad economic restrictions.
Mint
22 minutes ago
- Mint
Russia offers Ukraine partial '2-3 day' ceasefire for 'commanders to collect bodies of soldiers'
Russia proposed a partial ceasefire lasting "two to three days," at talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Monday, according to Moscow's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky. "We have proposed a specific ceasefire for two to three days in certain areas of the front line," Medinsky said, 'so that commanders can collect the bodies of their soldiers,' reported AFP. Ukraine is pushing for a full and unconditional ceasefire. (This is a developing story. Keep checking for more updates)
South Wales Argus
22 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Row between Farage and Sarwar rages on as Reform UK leader visits Scotland
Mr Farage doubled down on his attacks against the Scottish Labour leader, which come in the wake of a Reform UK online ad that has already been branded 'racist' by opponents. Mr Sarwar meanwhile insisted Mr Farage was the 'chief clown', adding that having 'finally found his way to Scotland' the Reform leader had shown 'just how totally out of touch with our country he is'. The pair clashed after Mr Farage gave a press conference in Aberdeen, insisting his party has made 'remarkable strides in Scotland over the past year'. We are delighted to welcome former Scottish Labour Councillor @JamieMcGuire__ ✅ — Reform UK Scotland (@ReformUKScot) June 2, 2025 Councillor Duncan Massey, who had previously been a Tory member of Aberdeen City Council, was unveiled as a latest defector to Reform, along with former Labour councillor Jamie McGuire. Speaking as noisy protesters gathered outside the press conference, the Reform UK leader said if the polls are to be believed 'we are beginning to eclipse Labour to be the second most popular party in Scottish politics'. Mr Farage meanwhile predicted his party would come at least third in Thursday's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, adding that if it wins it would be 'biggest earthquake Scottish politics has ever seen'. Much of the campaign for that Holyrood by-election has been dominated by a row over an online Reform advert, which claims that Mr Sarwar will 'prioritise' the Pakistani community in Scotland. Speaking on Monday, Mr Farage alleged that the Scottish Labour leader has a 'record of obsession' on the issue of race – citing a speech he gave in Holyrood in 2020 as evidence of this. Meanwhile, he insisted Reform UK 'don't talk about race at all'. Mr Farage pointed out his party's chairman, Zia Yusuf, was someone who 'is Scottish-born, but comes from parents who come from the Indian subcontinent'. The Reform leader continued: 'We think everybody should be treated equally. We object, very strongly, to the segmentation of people into different types.' Adding that the Scottish Labour leader has a 'record of obsession on this issue', he referenced a speech Mr Sarwar gave in 2020 where he noted that key figures across Scotland, from the judiciary, to council chief executives to head teachers, were all white. Mr Farage said: 'I think that speech he gave was sectarian in its very nature – 'we are the south Asian community, we are going to take over the country and take over the world'. 'We believe what he said was a form of sectarian politics and we don't like it one little bit.' Mr Sarwar hit back, saying: 'Today, the chief clown Nigel Farage finally found his way to Scotland and showed just how totally out of touch with our country he is. 'Nigel Farage turned up, admitted he can't win the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, and pledged to cut funding for Scotland's NHS and public services. 'Nigel Farage is a dangerous clown and the people of Scotland see right through him.' Mr Farage also hit out at First Minister John Swinney, telling the Scottish Sun that the SNP leader – who has made a number of attacks against Reform – was 'anti-English'. The only way the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse can be confident that they will be voting for hope is by voting SNP to stop Farage and for a better future for Scotland. On the 5th of June, Vote SNP to stop Farage and elect a MSP who will always be on your side. — The SNP (@theSNP) May 31, 2025 With the the First Minister having branded Mr Farage and his party 'poisonous', the Reform leader said such 'deeply provocative' comments showed a 'sort of quite unpleasant anti-Englishness'. Mr Swinney however told the PA news agency: 'I've always taken forward my politics on the basis of inclusion, of welcoming people, of working with others – that's what I'm about. 'Nigel Farage is the opposite of that. 'Nigel Farage stokes division, he seeks to put people against each other and we're bringing people together in Scotland to create the best future for our country.' The row continued as Mr Farage also used his press conference to again speak out against the 'madness' of the net zero policies being pursued by the governments at Holyrood and Westminster. He told reporters these had left the oil and gas industry, which is centred in Aberdeen, 'in serious decline'. He insisted: 'Even the most ardent proponent of net zero has to accept the world will still be using oil and gas up until 2050 and beyond. 'And yet we have decided to sacrifice this industry as a consensus around net zero has emerged.' As a result of this, he said parts of Scotland, England and Wales were 'literally deindustrialising before our very eyes'. Mr Farage said: 'The madness of this is almost completely and utterly beyond belief.'
