The 2000 MW Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project (PSP) seeks to divert over 287 acres of evergreen forest within the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary. Its inseparable components—roads, bridges, transmission lines, quarries, tunnels, and powerhouses—are being fragmented into separate proposals to evade environmental scrutiny. This deliberate segmentation undermines legal due process and creates a fait accompli, a practice explicitly barred by the Supreme Court of India.
Frontline (The Hindu) published an article on the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project on 01 August 2025, featuring the map–infographic in this article
Pumped storage projects move water between two reservoirs—one higher, one lower—to generate electricity. In the Sharavathi PSP, Talakalale Reservoir serves as the upper reservoir and Gerusoppa as the lower. During peak demand, water flows from Talakalale to Gerusoppa to produce power; during low demand, typically at night, it is pumped back uphill to Talakalale, readying the system for the next day’s operation.
Also read | Losing Power to make Power
The infographic above maps the reservoirs and dams, the Sharavathi Lion-tailed Macaque Sanctuary and its Eco-sensitive Zone, powerhouses, tunnels, bridges, the Sharavathi River and its streams, landslides, and other key features. Click the image to load the high-quality PDF.
Frontline (The Hindu) published an article on the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project on 01 August 2025, featuring the map–infographic above.
The seven distinct components of the project
The infographic above captures the seven distinct componets of the project. The same is captured here with some additional details and photographs
1: Roads, dump yard, labot shed, tunnels & powerhouses
At present, Environmental Clearance, Wildlife Clearance and Forest Clearance has been sought only for the roads, dump yard, fabrication yard, labor shed, tunnels & powerhouses together requiring the diversion of approximately 135 acres (106 acres of sanctuary and 29 acres of eco-sensitive zone) within the Sharavathi LTM Wildlife Sanctuary
2: Kalkatte Bridge
This is a new bridge proposed across the stream formed by the confluence of the Kalkatte and Kandoddi streams. Despite this bridge being part of the road in component 1, it has been submitted as a separate Wildlife Clearance proposal . It is justified not as part of the Pumped Storage Project, but as standalone infrastructure claimed to benefit local residents.
3: Transmission Lines
Transmission lines, which carry electricity from the generation site to the grid, are an essential component of any hydroelectric project. Yet, the existing clearances for the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project do not include them. RTI data shows that the transmission lines alone will require diverting approximately 143 acres of Sharavathi LTM Wildlife Sanctuary including its eco-sensitive zone.
Leaving out the transmission lines reflects the MoEFCC’s piecemeal approach—splitting projects to hide their full impact. This weakens environmental safeguards and creates a fait accompli: once tunnels and powerhouses are approved and built, clearing the transmission lines becomes inevitable.
4: Stone Quarry
According to data on the Parivesh portal, the proposed stone quarry for the project lies within the Sharavathi LTM Wildlife Sanctuary. Quarrying is prohibited under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
5: Sand Quarry
Similarly, the Basavana Betta sand quarry, located within the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the Sanctuary, falls under activities that are restricted or prohibited under ESZ guidelines.
6: Widening of National Highway 69
The widening of National Highway 69 between Honnavar and Gerusoppa will be necessary to transport materials to the project site, though details of this component are unknown
7: Nagarbastikeri Bridge
The Nagarbastikeri Bridge—a major crossing over the Sharavathi River—is in its final stages of construction. Google Earth imagery shows work began in 2020, well before project applications were submitted on Parivesh. Despite its clear functional link to the project site, it has been presented as public infrastructure for local communities, rather than acknowledged as part of the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project.
In conclusion, the tunnels, powerhouse, bridges, roads, and transmission line are all essential and inseparable components of the same project, regardless of whether they are executed by different agencies. This deliberate segmentation to evade environmental scrutiny not only undermines legal due process but also creates a fait accompli—explicitly prohibited by the Supreme Court in Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India (2011). Only when all ecological and economic components are fully accounted for can the true cost of the project be understood—and an informed decision be made
Nolan Pinto of South First covered the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project. The synopsis can be found here
