Meera Bhardwaj:
Opposition to Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project (PSP) is reaching massive levels in Karnataka with even outside Kannadigas supporting the “Save Sharavathi” movement.
Just take a look at the above picture which is the location of the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project and if this project is implemented, what will be the consequences on Western Ghats – the birthplace of so many rivers, the source of drinking water and the livelihood of farming and fishing communities of Karnataka.
The Save Sharavathi campaign even reverberated in the Asia Cup Cricket matches with people holding “Save Sharavathi” placards.
With the loss of more than 15,000 trees and also hundreds of acres of untouched, prime forests in Western ghats, the Singhalikas or the Lion Tailed Macaques numbering about 720 (living in an unfragmented group in Karnataka) may vanish or become extinct.
In an overwhleming response to Save Sharavathi Campaign, nearly 45,000 to 49,000 people have outrightly rejected the catastrophic project in the Western Ghats’ bound districts of Shivamogga and Uttar Kannada.
And people are still extending their continued support for Saving Sharavathi and expressed their complete opposition to the project.
Meanwhile, Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav has agreed for a re-look into the Sharavathi PSP and in this background, a team of experts led by National Board of Wildlife member Raman Sukumar will be visiting the project site for an assessment soon.
This in in response to the various appeals and letters written to the union minister on the calamitous effect of this project in Western Ghats.
According to citizens and local communities, the Pumped Storage Project (PSP) on Sharavathi River will wreak havoc and make unalterable changes in the Western Ghats – destroying forests & hydrology, killing many streams, tributaries and take away the livelihood of farmers and fishing community in these districts.
The two Environmental Public Consultations held by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board on September 16th in Shivamogga and on 18th in Uttar Kannada has clearly showed the total opposition to the Sharavathi PSP from farmers, fishermen, religious heads, activists, social workers and experts.
The authorities were questioned for their disdainful attitude and making the public consultations a mockery by not sharing the documents whether be it the DPR or the 13 approvals got by KPCL from various govt agencies and the entire project details being in English and not in Kannada.
At both the consultations, farmers and local residents came in overwhelming numbers and expressed their distress and said, “The state govt is trying to steamroll the project in Western Ghats without taking into consideration the needs of the people. No details or information was available in Kannada about this project while it is being bulldozed under the guise of power generation.”
Adding to this G Veeresh, conservationist from Chikkamagaluru said, “Thousands of petitions and memorandums have been submitted against the project both to the Central and State Governments, so, the project must be dropped once for all. The National Board for Wildlife has decided to visit the project site, have formed a committee and very shortly, the committee will be visiting the project site and forest area. We welcome this stand of MoEF & CC as there is total opposition to this project by the local communities.”
Apart from this, the Sharavathi PSP site falls in an area which is home to four ASI temples, Jain basadis and historical monuments built during the time of Rani Chennabhairadevi, known as the Pepper Queen of Gerusoppa (Nagara province) during the 16th century. She is the longest ruling queen of India and has ruled for 54 years. Recently, a postage stamp was released by the Indian President to commemorate her contribution and legacy as a fearless coastal queen.
Local farmers said, “Once again, this project will displace people in Uttar Kannada and Shivamogga districts as their parents and grandparents had been displaced for Linganmakki and four other dams on this over-exploited 128-kilometre-long Sharavathi River. Only 14 kms of the river flows freely now while rest is for hydropower generation. How many more projects will this river withstand before it joins the Arabian Sea?”
At the Gerusoppa public consultation meeting, Bangarmakki Sri Maruthi Guruji put forth the effects of the Sharavathi PSP on people and questioned the hidden agenda behind this project. Decrying the attitude of officials, he added, “Our entire life will come to a grinding halt with the usage of 18,000 tonnes of explosives to build tunnels and other installations for generation of power in these pristine forests. The DPR (in English) was read like a “Harikathe” by KPCL in just 40 minutes and they expected instant submissions from people.”
The Maruthi Swamiji further questioned, “How can a project costing Rs 4000 cr in 2006 and Rs 10,500 cr in 2025 will be viable now and will 2000 MW power suffice now? Is it possible to regenerate the primary forests destroyed for this project which has taken millions of years to form a unique forest habitat?”
There is so many unanswered questions about the Sharavathi PSP project, he and other speakers at the public consultation said.
The citizens further demanded from the authorities to know the “hidden agenda” behind the project when better alternatives were available. UNESCO gives 1000s of crore rupees for development of forests in Western Ghats as it is a World’s Biodiversity Hotspot but where does this money go…. Is it to plant acacia trees in these primary forests?”
(PHOTO CREDIT: IMAGES 1, 5, 6,7 AND 8 BY G VEERESH, CHIKKAMAGALURU)