The state government’s plan to establish the Sharavathi hydro-pumped storage plant in Sagar taluk has faced backlash from environmentalists and scientists. Prof T V Ramachandra of IISc’s Energy and Wetlands Research Group opposed the project in the ecologically sensitive Sharavathi Valley, citing the availability of alternative energy sources like solar power. He emphasized the potential ecological harm and criticized the project as a bid to exploit natural resources.
Former chairman of the State Western Ghat Task Force, Anant Hegde Ashisara, warned against the construction of reservoirs and tunnels in the valley, highlighting the implications for the survival of Western Ghats’ biodiversity. The Union Energy Ministry’s approval has prompted the drafting of a detailed project report, with environmental clearance pending.
Hegisara urged the Union ministry to reject the forest land diversion for the project, citing recent landslides in the region and the IISc’s report on Sharavathi Valley’s ecological vulnerabilities.