Sharavathi power project will destroy protected monuments, say activists: Report
Bengaluru: Environmental and heritage conservation activists have raised serious concerns ahead of the upcoming public hearing for the proposed Sharavathi pumped storage power project, warning that the project could lead to the destruction of protected historical monuments located within the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque (LTM) Sanctuary.
The Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) pumped storage project seeks to generate power by pumping water from Talakalale reservoir (upstream) and Gerusoppa reservoir (downstream). The project requires 133.81 acres of forest land and involves felling of over 16,000 trees.
Shivamogga-based history enthusiast Ajay Kumar B.S. wrote to the government stating that the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) deliberately overlooks the existence of the monuments, as reported by Deccan Herald on Monday.
According to Kumar, the monuments listed by by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the project site — Chaturmukha Basadi, Vardhaman Swami Temple, inscriptions, and the Virbhadra Temple — are historically significant and date back to the 16th century, during the reign of Rani Chennabhairadevi.
“She is the longest reigning queen in Indian history. She also fought the Portuguese who gave her the title ‘Rainha de Pimenta’ that translates into ‘The Queen of Pepper’ as her kingdom was known for exporting spices to European and Arab countries,” DH quoted him as saying.
He further emphasised that the project area, as demarcated in KPCL’s maps, lies within forests that were once part of the Gerusoppa kingdom, which served as Rani Chennabhairadevi’s capital.
In a letter addressed to senior officials in the Forest Department, Kumar criticised the EIA report for failing to include any mention of the ASI-protected monuments. “These matters should have been covered by the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report, which essentially denies the existence of the monuments. The KPCL cannot go ahead with the project this way,” Kumar wrote.
Adding to the controversy, KPCL reportedly responded “no” to a query from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) regarding whether the project has “any impact on anthropological or archaeological sites or any important site featuring in the vicinity of the proposed site”.
Meanwhile, the public hearing is slated for the project in Shivamogga on Tuesday and in Uttara Kannada on Thursday.
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Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
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According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
