Why in news?

The Environment Ministry's Forest Advisory Committee recently withheld clearance for the proposed Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project in Karnataka, citing potential "enormous damage" to the fragile ecosystem of the Western Ghats. Activists and scientists have raised concerns about the project's impact on biodiversity and its location within an eco-sensitive zone.

Background

• The project, planned by the Karnataka Power Corporation, aims to generate 2,000 megawatts of electricity by constructing a pumped-storage plant on the Sharavathi River in Shivamogga district.
• It proposes using the existing Talakalale Dam as the upper reservoir and the Gerusoppa Dam as the lower reservoir. Water would be pumped uphill during off-peak hours and released downhill through turbines to generate electricity when demand peaks.
• Pumped-storage schemes are a form of grid-scale energy storage that help balance renewable energy supply. Similar projects have been built in Telangana (Kaleshwaram) and other states.

Environmental concerns

• The project site lies inside the Eco-Sensitive Zone of the Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary, home to endangered species such as the lion-tailed macaque, Malabar hornbill and king cobra. Conservationists fear habitat fragmentation and disturbance of wildlife.
• Construction would divert around 54 hectares of dense evergreen forest and involve felling more than 15,000 trees. Additional infrastructure - including tunnels, bridges, transmission lines and quarries - could further degrade the Western Ghats, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots.
• Opponents argue that submitting project components separately to regulatory authorities skirts comprehensive environmental assessment. The associated quarrying and road works could violate forest and wildlife protection laws.

Significance and current status

• Supporters say the project would provide peaking power, stabilise the grid and supply drinking water to Bengaluru. However, the Forest Advisory Committee's concerns have stalled approval, underscoring the challenge of balancing energy demand with ecological integrity.
• The decision highlights the need for holistic environmental impact assessments and sustainable energy planning in ecologically sensitive regions.

Sources: India Today, Mapping Malnad