CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has given in-principle approval for the diversion of 142 hectares of forest land within the Sharavathi Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. This proposal has stirred debate due to its potential ecological impact, especially as it involves habitat of the endangered lion-tailed macaque, a species with a dwindling population of around 2,500 globally, about 700 of which live in this sanctuary.
Project Highlights
The proposed Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project, led by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), aims to produce 2,000 megawatts of electricity. It will utilise Talakalale and Gerusoppa reservoirs as upper and lower storage units, connected via underground pipelines. These reservoirs, located in the Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada districts, already exist, and the project seeks to use the natural elevation difference of over 460 metres without building new dams.
The land requirement includes 142.76 hectares, of which 39.72 hectares fall within the sanctuary’s eco-sensitive zone.
Environmental Concerns
Environmentalists have raised alarms over the project’s impact, particularly the proposed felling of approximately 15,000 trees to make way for access roads and associated infrastructure. The Western Ghats, where the sanctuary is located, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for rich biodiversity. Experts worry that habitat fragmentation could threaten the already vulnerable lion-tailed macaques, which are highly dependent on undisturbed canopy cover.
Debate Over Efficiency And Sustainability
The energy model of pumped storage, which involves pumping water uphill and releasing it for energy during peak demand, has drawn criticism for its energy inefficiency. However, KPCL plans to power this process with solar energy, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and enhance the project's green credentials.
Regulatory Hurdles And Approval Process
The project has been endorsed by Karnataka’s Chief Wildlife Warden, the State Board for Wildlife, and the state government. However, it still awaits final forest clearance under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is conducting parallel evaluations for forest, wildlife, and environmental permissions. While site inspections have been conducted, the NBWL has clarified that the final review will only proceed after all statutory clearances are in place.
Proposed Mitigation Strategies
To reduce the ecological footprint, the project includes mitigation measures such as building canopy bridges to facilitate safe movement of lion-tailed macaques across disturbed patches. The Chief Wildlife Warden has labelled the project as eco-friendly, citing the reuse of existing reservoirs and minimised infrastructure expansion.
Nonetheless, environmental experts have called for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). They emphasise the importance of assessing the project’s long-term ecological consequences, including species disruption, tree loss, and potential shifts in habitat dynamics.
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