Karnataka: Power project along Sharavathi river faces green hurdle

BENGALURU: The ambitious Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) project to make a pumped power storage facility along Sharavathi river to store 2000 MW of power faces a serious forest clearance hurdle.
The proposed location of the project is in the Western Ghats, an area home to the endangered lion and tailed macaque. Their habitation is likely to be “disturbed” because of the project and hence, there is scepticism over the forest clearances.
Announced as part of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s budget promises in April 2021-22, the project was hailed as a decisive push towards energy security in the state. An allocation of Rs 1,000 crore was made. Pumped storage facilities are considered to be the answer to the state’s energy woes, given that Karnataka is facing a continued problem in operating its thermal power plants because of low coal stocks, and the lack of rain which has led to low hydel energy and unreliable renewable energy.