Expert Committee Rejects ₹10,000 Crore Karnataka Power Project
An expert committee appointed by the National Board for Wildlife has recommended against the ₹10,000 crore Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project in Karnataka. The committee's report, submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, highlights potential habitat fragmentation and ecological degradation in the area, which is home to the endangered lion-tailed macaque. The project, which aims to generate 2,000 MW of electricity at night, was found to result in a loss of over 500 MW due to its nature of merely shifting electricity generation. The committee noted that the existing transmission infrastructure is inadequate for the project’s requirements, raising concerns about its feasibility and environmental impact. The project is located within the Sharavathi Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary, where such developments are restricted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Published 1 day ago • 10 Jul 2026, 09:49 PM IST