Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project

The High Court of Karnataka has ordered the issuance of notices to the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging approvals granted for the ₹10,000-crore Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project.

The petition questions the legality of the approvals provided by the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife and the in-principle clearance granted by the National Board for Wildlife for the project proposed in Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada districts of Karnataka.

Petitioners’ Arguments

The petitioners argued that the project has been proposed within the Sharavathi Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary and its eco-sensitive zone, and therefore cannot be approved under Section 29 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Section 29 of the Act restricts destruction, exploitation, or diversion of wildlife habitat within a sanctuary except under exceptional circumstances and with strict safeguards.

Approvals Under Challenge

The PIL seeks the court’s direction to quash:

• The approval granted by the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife in January 2025, and
• The in-principle approval given by the National Board for Wildlife in June 2025.

Ecological Concerns

The Sharavathi Valley sanctuary is a crucial habitat for the endangered Lion-tailed Macaque, a species endemic to the Western Ghats. Environmental groups argue that large infrastructure projects within the sanctuary could threaten the fragile ecosystem and biodiversity of the region.

Source: TH