Expert's urgent call to halt pumped storage projects in India’s ecologically sensitive river valleys

By A Representative

In a fervent appeal to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology, and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Shankar Sharma, a noted Power and Climate Policy Analyst based in Karnataka, has raised alarm over the ecological devastation threatened by Pumped Storage Plants (PSPs) in India’s river valleys, particularly in the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats. The appeal, addressed on World Environment Day 2025, invokes Dr. Singh’s own statement: “We owe it to the next generation to preserve the environment for them”, urging immediate action to align policy with this commitment.

Sharma’s letter, copied to the Union Ministers for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (EF&CC) and Power, the Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, and the Prime Minister, highlights the disconnect between India’s climate rhetoric and its environmental policies. Citing media reports, including The Hindu’s analysis of India’s worsening environmental crisis and WWF’s Living Planet Report noting a 73% decline in global wildlife populations over 50 years, Sharma underscores the grim reality of ecological degradation. He points to the diversion of 173,000 hectares of forest land for non-forestry use and 60,000 hectares for commercial purposes in recent years, alongside a 36% increase in primary forest loss between 2014-19 compared to 2009-13 (News18, 2025).

The proposed 2,000 MW PSP in Karnataka’s Sharavathi river valley, currently under review by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), is a focal point of Sharma’s critique. He warns that implementing even half of the 103,000 MW PSP potential envisioned by the Ministry of Power could cause “colossal and irreversible” damage to India’s fragile river valley ecosystems. Sharma argues that PSPs, promoted with exemptions to appear economically viable, are not essential for grid stability and pale in comparison to greener alternatives like Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

Quoting Sharma: “When we objectively consider global developments, BESS emerges as a far superior option to PSPs, with minimal ecological costs. The PMO must take a policy decision to discourage PSPs in river valleys to truly preserve our environment for future generations.”

Sharma highlights the rapid advancements in BESS, noting that battery pack prices have dropped to $55/kWh, with 31 GWh of standalone BESS tenders issued in India since March 2022. Solar-plus-storage systems have achieved tariffs below ₹6/kWh, signaling a viable path for industrial and commercial applications. Globally, grid-scale battery storage is “quietly revolutionizing the energy system,” yet India’s fixation on PSPs risks irreversible ecological harm without justification.

The appeal calls for the PMO’s intervention to deny environmental clearance for the Sharavathi PSP and similar projects, framing it as a litmus test for India’s environmental commitment. Sharma questions why policymakers remain oblivious to the threats posed to future generations, including their own families, and warns that without protecting natural forests and river valleys, government claims of environmental responsibility ring hollow.

Enclosing a digital representation submitted to the EAC/MoEF&CC, Sharma urges a policy shift toward sustainable energy solutions to honor Dr. Singh’s pledge for future generations.

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