Expert urges government to halt ecologically harmful pumped storage projects, favour battery storage instead

By A Representative

Power and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma has issued a strong appeal to the Union Government to urgently reconsider its growing reliance on Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) and instead prioritize Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for India’s future energy security. In a detailed letter sent to the Secretaries of Power, New & Renewable Energy, and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Sharma has highlighted the ecological, technical, and economic superiority of BESS over PSPs—particularly in the context of protecting fragile ecosystems like the Sharavati River Valley in Karnataka’s Western Ghats.

The letter has also been copied to key cabinet ministers including Shripad Yesso Naik, Pralhad Joshi, Manohar Lal, and Bhupender Yadav, as well as to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging a policy pause and comprehensive review.

Sharma points out that PSPs, though not net energy generators, are being pursued at a massive scale, with 105 GW capacity proposed across India. He warns that these projects will lead to large-scale forest loss, biodiversity destruction, and disruption to riverine ecosystems. One such proposal, for a 2,000 MW PSP inside the Sharavati LTM Sanctuary, is already pending with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). “There is a critical need to objectively compare the preference being given to PSPs with the relative advantages of BESS,” Sharma wrote, adding that proceeding without this diligence amounts to “wanton disregard of the Constitutional mandate” to protect the environment.

Citing the Central Electricity Authority’s National Electricity Plan 2023, Sharma emphasizes that while PSPs are projected to contribute 540 GWh of storage capacity by 2047, BESS is expected to provide 1,840 GWh—over three times more. He suggests that the ceiling for PSP expansion has already been factored in by national planners, making BESS the logical path forward.

Referencing recent technological developments, Sharma notes that grid-scale BESS is rapidly transforming power sectors worldwide—including in the US, China, and Australia. In particular, he highlights a major tender floated by the Gujarat government for a 2,000 MW / 4,000 MWh standalone BESS project, which mirrors the capacity of the Sharavati PSP proposal but without the massive environmental costs. “Smaller BESS units—like 50 MW * 2 hour systems—can be deployed across substations, avoid new transmission lines, and not require a single tree to be cut,” Sharma argues. “In contrast, PSPs demand enormous infrastructure in eco-sensitive zones.”

He also cited a recent agreement signed between JSW Renew Energy and BESCOM in Karnataka for a 100 MW solar project integrated with 100 MWh BESS, proving the feasibility and growing acceptance of this model in the Indian context.

Sharma further advocates for complementary solutions such as grid-forming inverters to stabilize frequency without rotating mass, repurposing existing hydroelectric dams for peak hour operations, time-of-day metering and load shifting to reduce peak demand, and encouraging consumer-level battery storage and solar installations. These measures, he says, can collectively reduce or eliminate the need for PSPs.

In his concluding appeal, Sharma calls on the Union government to pause all environmental, forest and wildlife clearances being routinely granted to PSP proposals until full techno-economic assessments are conducted for each. Specifically, he requests that the application by Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL) for the Sharavati LTM Sanctuary PSP be kept in abeyance, pending comprehensive review.

“India must not sacrifice irreplaceable ecological treasures for outdated and environmentally damaging technologies,” Sharma writes. With global momentum shifting rapidly toward decentralized, modular, and low-impact energy storage systems, Sharma’s letter raises a compelling case for policymakers to rethink India's renewable energy transition strategy before irreversible ecological damage is done.

Comments

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Kolkata dialogue flags policy and finance deficit in wetland sustainability

By A Representative Wetlands were the focus of India–Germany climate talks in Kolkata, where experts from government, business, and civil society stressed both their ecological importance and the urgent need for stronger conservation frameworks.

Beyond Lata: How Asha Bhosle redefined the female voice with her underrated versatility

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The news of iconic Asha Bhosle’s ‘untimely’ demise has shocked music lovers across the country. Asha Tai was 92 years young. Normally, people celebrate a passing at this age, but Asha Bhosle—much like another legend, Dev Anand—never made us feel she was growing old. She was perhaps the most versatile artist in Bombay cinema. Hailing from a family devoted to music, Asha’s journey to success and fame was not easy. Her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, had already become the voice of women in cinema, and most contemporaries like Shamshad Begum, Suraiya, and Noor Jehan had slowly faded into oblivion. Frankly, there was no second or third to Lata Mangeshkar; she became the first—and perhaps the only—choice for music directors and all those who mattered in filmmaking. Asha started her musical journey at age 10 with a Marathi film, but her first break in Hindustani cinema came with the film "Chunariya" (1948). Though she was not the first choice of ...

Maoist activity in India: Weakening structures, 'shifts' in leadership, strategy and ideology

By Harsh Thakor* Recent statements by government representatives have suggested that Maoism in India has been effectively eliminated, citing the weakening of central leadership and intensified security operations. These claims follow sustained counterinsurgency efforts across key regions, including central and eastern India. However, available information from security agencies and independent observers indicates that while the organizational structure of the CPI (Maoist) has been significantly disrupted, elements of the movement remain active. Reports acknowledge the continued presence of cadres in certain forested regions such as Bastar and parts of Dandakaranya, alongside smaller, decentralized units adapting their operational strategies.

From Manesar to Noida: Workers take to streets for bread, media looks away

By Sunil Kumar* Across several states in India, a workers’ movement is gathering momentum. This is not a movement born of luxury or ambition, nor a demand for power-sharing within the state. At its core lies a stark and basic plea: the right to survive with dignity—adequate food, and wages sufficient to afford it.

Midnight weeping: The sociology of tragic vision in Badri Narayan’s poetry

By Ravi Ranjan* Badri Narayan, a distinguished Hindi poet and social scientist, occupies a unique position in contemporary Indian intellectual life by bridging the worlds of creative literature and critical social inquiry. His poetic journey began significantly with the 1993 collection 'Saca Sune Hue Kaï Dina Hue' (Truth Heard Many Days Ago). As a social historian and cultural anthropologist, Narayan pioneered a methodological shift away from elite archives toward the oral traditions and folk myths of marginalized communities. He eventually legitimized "folk-ethnography" as a rigorous academic discipline during his tenure as Director of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute.

Why link women’s reservation to delimitation? The unspoken political calculus

By Vikas Meshram* April 16, 2026, is likely to be recorded as a special day in the history of Indian democracy. In a three-day special session of Parliament, the central government is set to introduce a comprehensive package of three historic bills: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The stated purpose of all three is the same: to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment) passed in 2023. However, the political intent concealed behind these measures — and their impact on the federal balance — is far more profound. It is absolutely essential to understand this.

'It's power grab, not reform': Uttarakhand hills fear marginalization under new delimitation

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The proposed delimitation bill, coupled with the women’s reservation bill, is a calculated attempt to divert attention during state elections while laying the groundwork for long-term power consolidation through a north Indian hegemony. India’s constitution-making process was arduous, but it was guided by leaders deeply committed to unity and integrity. They ensured no community felt betrayed, and the foundation of modern India was laid on inclusivity. Any attempt to alter this balance must be approached with caution and respect for that legacy.

Catholic union opposes FCRA amendments, warns of threat to Church institutions

By A Representative The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as growing threats to religious freedom, minority rights, and constitutional safeguards in India, warning that recent policy and legislative trends could undermine the country’s secular and federal framework.

Search This Blog