Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project

Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project Latest News

The High Court of Karnataka recently ordered an issue of notice to the Centre and State government on a PIL petition, which had questioned the legality of the approval granted by the State Wildlife Board and the in-principle approval granted by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife for the Sharavathi PSHP.

About Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project

• It is a PSHP proposed on the Sharavathi River in the Shivamogga district, Karnataka.
• This project, with its aim to generate 2,000 MW of power, will be the biggest of its kind in the country.
• It is being developed by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL).
• The project involves building a pumped storage power plant between two existing reservoirs. 
• The Talakalale dam, which stands at 62.48 meters tall, will be the upper reservoir.  This dam currently helps balance water for the existing Sharavathy hydroelectric project.  
• The Gerusoppa dam will be the lower reservoir, and it is about 64 meters tall. 
• Water will be pumped uphill during off-peak hours and released downhill to generate electricity during peak demand.
• The project aims to utilise renewable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. 
• Modelled on the lines of Telangana’s Kaleshwaram project, it also aims to supply drinking water to Bengaluru. 
• Five tunnels and eight pumping stations are critical parts of the plan.
• The project falls within the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to the endangered lion-tailed macaque, hornbills, king cobras, and numerous endemic plant species of the Western Ghats.

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Key Facts about Sharavathi River

• It is a river in the western Karnataka state.
• It is one of the few rivers in India, which flows in the west direction. 
• A large part of the river basin lies in the Western Ghats.
• Course: Rising in the Western Ghats, it flows in a northwesterly direction and empties into the Arabian Sea at Honnavar, near the Uttara Kannada district.
• Total Length: 128 km
• On its way, the Sharavathi forms the Jog Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in India, where the river falls from a height of 253 m. 
• Diverse geological features mark the river’s course, including rocky outcrops, fertile plains, and deep gorges.
• Major Tributaries: Nandihole, Haridravathi, Mavinahole, Hilkunji, Yennehole, Hurlihole, and Nagodihole.

Source: TH