After securing clearances for the upgradation of the Kumta-Sirsi National Highway (NH-766E) and the Belekeri-Hattikeri road, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated work on these under phase 1 of the Centre’s Bharatmala Pariyojana project.
Activists have, however, raised red flags as the projects would entail felling around 10,000 trees. As many as 39.847 hectares (19.199 hectares in Honnavara division and 20.648 hectares in Sirsi division) of forest land and 8.0399 hectares of non-forest land is proposed to be diverted for the purpose.
The project is located just 610 metres from the Sharavathy Valley Lion Tailed Macaque Sanctuary where the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation is setting up a 2000 MW pumped storage electricity project.
