Sharavathi PSP project threatens biodiversity, undermines environmental laws: Centre told

By A Representative

In a detailed communication addressed to the Secretaries of the Ministry of Power, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, and Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Mr. Shankar Sharma, a veteran power sector professional and climate policy analyst, has raised serious concerns over the Union Government’s continued emphasis on large-scale Pumped Storage Power Plants (PSPs), particularly the proposed 2,000 MW PSP across the Sharavathi River in Karnataka’s Western Ghats.

The letter draws attention to the ecological threats posed by PSP projects located within legally protected wildlife sanctuaries and sensitive river valleys. Mr. Sharma points out that the Sharavathi PSP project, in particular, involves the destruction of over 350 acres of pristine tropical rainforest within a designated Lion-tailed Macaque Sanctuary—an irreplaceable biodiversity hotspot.

Despite multiple representations by civil society groups and domain experts, Mr. Sharma notes that there has been little or no response from the authorities. He underscores the absence of transparent public consultation and the lack of due diligence in project approvals, including the non-disclosure of crucial project documents such as the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to key decision-making bodies.

In his communication, Mr. Sharma calls for a fundamental review of the necessity of PSPs in ecologically fragile regions, especially when viable alternatives like Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are already being implemented elsewhere in India, such as Tamil Nadu’s recent decision to deploy six large-scale BESS projects.

Highlighting the Central Electricity Authority’s own projections for balancing renewable energy integration—47.24 GW of storage capacity to be met through BESS—he questions why PSPs continue to be prioritized at immense ecological cost. He warns that such decisions threaten India’s biodiversity, undermine its environmental laws, and exacerbate the climate crisis.

Mr. Sharma urges senior officials to conduct an objective review of all high-impact energy projects, adopt a transparent policy framework for energy storage solutions, and prioritize the protection of India’s dwindling natural ecosystems. He also requests an opportunity to present his analysis before the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) and National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) prior to any final decision on the Sharavathi PSP.

With over 44 years of international experience in the energy sector, Mr. Sharma offers his expertise to support evidence-based decision-making in India’s power and climate policy landscape.

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