18 hours ago
Forest Advisory Committee defers Sharavathi PSP proposal by KPCL, seeks clarifications on tree cutting
The forest advisory committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has deferred the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) proposal for the Sharavati Pumped Storage Project, seeking clarification with regard to the cutting of trees in the project area.
The KPCL has proposed the project to generate 2,000 MW of power in the Sharavati valley, making use of the Talakalale and the Gerusoppa reservoirs. The KPCL has sought the diversion of 54.155 hectares of forestland for the project with the outlay of ₹10,240 crore.
The advisory committee, in its report on August 7, stated that it had a detailed discussion with the Deputy DGF (Central) of the regional office in Bengaluru, and the nodal officer of the State government. It sought clarifications/information for further considerations on three issues.
NBW meeting
Making a reference to the recommendations of the standing committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBW) in its 84th meeting held on June 26, the committee wanted the status of compliance.
The NBW, in its recommendations, stated that most of the 518 trees in the area where a surge tank had been proposed could be saved if an alternative underground structure was constructed with a narrow opening for an air outlet.
Further, the NBW stated that over 12,000 trees, enumerated for felling for the construction of the 12.3-km road from Nagarabasti Kere to Begodi, could be saved if the proposed underground road was extended up to the base of the pump house. Such modification in the plan could also help the lion-tailed macaque, the flagship species of the sanctuary. The advisory committee wanted the status of compliance with regard to these recommendations.
Besides that, it also sought the State government's comments on the issues raised by the regional office of the MOEF in the site inspection report (SIR). The regional office had not recommended the proposal of the project, citing 15 reasons.
Praneetha Paul, DIGF, who conducted the inspection, expressed concern about the damage the project could cause to the Western Ghats.
Further, the committee had sought the comments of the regional office of Bengaluru on the concerns raised in the SIR.
Protest to intensify
Meanwhile, environmentalists of the Malnad region, opposing the project, have resolved to intensify their protests. A meeting was held in Sagar in this regard on August 11.
Environmentalists Akhilesh Chipli, Shivanand Kugve, Venkatesh Kavalakodu, and others attended the meeting and decided to spread awareness on the impacts of the project among the people in Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada districts.
