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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22 Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district
Sukma (PTI): As many as 22 Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Tuesday, police said.
The cadres, including a woman, turned themselves in before senior police and CRPF officials here under the `Poona Margem' (New Dawn) rehabilitation scheme of the government, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said.
The Maoists' influence is steadily declining in the district due to the ongoing anti-Naxal operations, establishment of new security camps and the increased reach of development projects, he said.
The District Reserve Guard (DRG) Sukma, District Force Sukma, Range Field Team (RFT) Jagdalpur and the Central Reserve Police Force played a key role in encouraging the Naxalites to surrender, the SP said.
The surrendered Naxalites were provided an assistance of Rs 50,000 each and will be further rehabilitated as per the government's policy, he added.
More than 1,500 Naxalites surrendered in the state in 2025.
The Centre has resolved to eliminate Naxalism from the country by March 31, 2026.
