Centre Defers Sharavathy Pumped Storage Project Amid Biodiversity Concerns in Western Ghats

The Centre has postponed the Sharavathy Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project due to significant ecological concerns. The project threatens biodiversity in the Western Ghats, including endemic species and crucial forest ecosystems.

The Indian government has postponed a plan to use about 54 hectares of forest in the Western Ghats for the Sharavathy Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project. This decision follows concerns about ecological impacts and breaches of forest laws. The project site is within the Sharavathy Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary, a crucial area in the Western Ghats.

The Environment Ministry's Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) highlighted that the project would involve cutting down over 15,000 trees, many unique to this biodiversity hotspot. The forest area includes eco-class 1 and eco-class 3 zones with canopy densities of 0.5 and 0.2, respectively. These forests are home to complex ecosystems that are difficult to restore once damaged.

Ecological Concerns and Wildlife Impact

The proposed project area supports various species, including the Lion-Tailed Macaque, Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Wild Dogs, King Cobra, and Malabar Giant Squirrel. A wildlife census recorded 730 Lion-Tailed Macaques in the sanctuary. The loss of habitat could severely threaten these species' survival by increasing fragmentation.

The FAC noted that the compensatory afforestation site offered by the project proponent would not adequately replace the lost habitat for these species. Wet evergreen forests are complex and challenging to replicate, making it difficult to compensate for their loss.

Engineering Challenges and Environmental Risks

The project's engineering design involves constructing two reservoirs, tunnels up to 3.2 km long, and excavation to depths of 500 metres. This work requires drilling and blasting for underground construction. The area is in Seismic Zone 3, where slope cutting and heavy monsoon rains could increase landslide and erosion risks.

The committee warned that such activities could be disastrous for both the area's ecology and nearby human settlements. The Deputy Inspector General of Forests Central from Bengaluru did not recommend the proposal due to its location within the sensitive Sharavathy Valley Sanctuary.

Legal Concerns and Recommendations

The Chief Wildlife Warden of Karnataka also objected, stating that the project's implementation could cause significant harm to local flora and fauna. The FAC noted that ecological damage would outweigh any economic benefits from the project.

Additionally, transmission line routes for power evacuation might violate the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The FAC expressed concern over compensatory afforestation areas being ecologically different from the lost wet evergreen forests.

Next Steps and Further Requirements

The committee recommended that tree felling be minimized and that project layout be finalized with input from the chief wildlife warden according to an approved wildlife management plan. They also called for a scientifically designed wildlife mitigation plan and a detailed hydrological study before reconsidering the proposal.

After thorough discussions, the committee decided to defer the proposal. They requested more information and clarifications from both the state government and the user agency involved in this project.

With inputs from PTI