Karnataka govt grants permission to KPCL to drill boreholes inside Sharavathi sanctuary

Amidst burgeoning protests and opposition to the proposed 2,000 MW Sharavathi pumped-storage hydroelectric project inside the Sharavathi Valley between Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada, the Karnataka Forest Department has granted permission to Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) to carry out survey and geotechnical investigation by drilling inside the Sharavathi Valley Lion-tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary last week subject to stringent conditions.

The proposal, which was accorded an approval by the State Board for Wildlife in September 2019, was recommended to the Prime Minister-headed National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The NBWL which met in April 2020 amidst lockdown against the COVID-19 also gave its green signal to carry out the study subject to conditions imposed by the Chief Wildlife Warden of Karnataka.