Shivamogga: Karnataka energy minister KJ George stated on Tuesday that the proposed Sharavati pumped storage project in the Sharavathi valley lion tailed macaque sanctuary, Sagar, will not cause any large-scale damage to the forest ecosystem, and urged the public not to oppose the initiative. He clarified that misconceptions are being spread regarding the environmental impact of the project.Speaking to reporters, the district minister countered rumours that huge land will be submerged. He explained that the actual impact is significantly minimal, as a large area is only required temporarily for the pipeline installation phase. Once the pipelines are laid, the land will be reforested, meaning that only 25 to 30 acres of land will be utilised for the permanent set up the pump house.Detailing the project’s mechanism, the minister explained that after generating electricity at Sharavati dam, the water that usually drains out into the sea, will be pumped back up to the dam, to generate power during peak demand hours.He cited a similar successful project by Greenco Group in Andhra Pradesh, which he recently inspected, noting that water evaporation loss in such systems is under 5%. Addressing environmental and wildlife concerns, he pointed out that major engineering projects, like the tunnel projects in the north and national highways, are successfully executed across the country by strictly adhering to green norms. He assured the Sharavati project will follow the same path, with mandatory clearances obtained from the KSPCB, forest department and national-level expert committee before any construction begins.The minister said that the govt has no intention of scrapping free electricity benefits currently enjoyed by 1.6 crore beneficiaries under the Gruha Jyothi scheme. Noting that the department is merely cross-verifying data to check if ineligible households are exploiting the scheme, and confirming that no legitimate power connections will be disconnected.Addressing fears about privatisation of electricity distribution, he said Karnataka has resisted the move, and following a recent application submitted to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission , the state’s electricity supply companies have been asked to submit objections before a final decision is debated in the state cabinet.
