Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (PSHP)

Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project Latest News

The Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee recently expressed concern that the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (PSHP) could cause ‘enormous damage to biodiversity in Western Ghats’.

About Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project

• It is a PSHP proposed on the Sharavathi River in Shivamogga district Karnataka.
• It is designed to generate 2,000 MW of electricity.
• The project involves building a pumped storage power plant between two existing reservoirs, Talakalale Dam and Gerusoppa Dam.
• It plans to use the Talakalale dam as the upper reservoir and the Gerusoppa dam as the lower reservoir. 
• Water will be pumped uphill during off-peak hours and released downhill to generate electricity during peak demand.
• 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
• The river basin covers 2,985 sq.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: IT