🔥 Trending Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project: Updates and Developments

The Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project (SPSP) is a proposed hydroelectric power plant in the Indian state of Karnataka, specifically in the Shivamogga (also spelled Shimoga) and Uttara Kannada districts ¹³⁶. Developed by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), it aims to be a significant renewable energy project with a proposed capacity of 2,000 MW ⁴⁷.

Project Overview

The core idea behind the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project is to store and generate electricity using a pumped-storage hydropower system ⁷. This technology involves moving water between two reservoirs at different elevations to store energy. During periods of low electricity demand, surplus power from the grid is used to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper one. When electricity demand is high, the stored water is released back down through turbines to generate power ⁷.

The project intends to utilize existing reservoirs, namely Talakalale and Gerusoppa, which are part of the Sharavathi River basin ⁴. The proposed capacity is an 8 x 250 MW hydroelectric project ⁶. The estimated cost of the project is approximately ₹10,000 crore (around 1.2 billion USD) ⁴¹⁰.

Location

The project is situated along the course of the Sharavathi River in the Western Ghats region of Karnataka ¹. This area is known for its rich biodiversity and ecological significance.

Purpose and Rationale

The primary objective of the SPSP is to address the growing energy demands of Karnataka and to enhance grid stability by providing a flexible and dispatchable source of power ⁷. Pumped storage projects are crucial for integrating intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind power into the grid, as they can store excess energy and release it when needed.

Environmental Concerns and Opposition

Despite its potential benefits for energy security, the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project has faced significant opposition and raised substantial environmental concerns ⁴⁵. The project's location within the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats, particularly near the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary, is a major point of contention ⁴⁵⁸.

Key environmental concerns include:

• Deforestation and Habitat Loss: The project is projected to divert over 287 acres of evergreen forest within the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary ⁸. This could lead to irreversible ecological harm and threaten the habitat of endangered species like the Lion-Tailed Macaque ¹⁰.
• Fragmentation of Ecosystems: Critics argue that the project's various components, including roads, bridges, transmission lines, quarries, tunnels, and powerhouses, are being fragmented into separate proposals to circumvent comprehensive environmental impact assessments ⁸.
• Impact on Biodiversity: The Western Ghats are a global biodiversity hotspot. Environmentalists and local communities fear the project will severely impact the region's unique flora and fauna ⁵¹⁰.
• Lack of Clearances: Environmental groups have highlighted that the Karnataka government has proceeded with the project without securing full environmental and forest clearances ⁵.

An expert panel has reportedly opposed the project, citing severe ecological risks and questioning the claimed electricity benefits, suggesting the project could cause "irreversible ecological harm" ¹⁰.

Current Status

As of 2026, the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project is considered "under construction" or "proposed" ²³. The Karnataka government has indicated its intention to move forward with the project ⁹, despite the ongoing debates and strong opposition from environmentalists and local communities ⁵¹⁰.