NBWL rejects ₹10,000 crore Sharavathi project over habitat harm, sustainability doubts
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Species, protected areas & wetlands· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) expert committee rejected the ₹10,000 crore Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project in Karnataka due to ecological risks.
Background
The project is a ₹10,000 crore pumped storage initiative located in Karnataka. The NBWL expert committee recommended rejection based on habitat fragmentation, wildlife disturbance, and lack of technical/environmental sustainability.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyNBWL: National Board for Wildlife is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- FactProject Cost: The Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project is valued at ₹10,000 crore.
- PlaceLocation: The project is situated in the state of Karnataka.
For Mains
Q. Analyze the conflict between large-scale renewable energy infrastructure and biodiversity conservation in India's ecologically sensitive zones.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Ecological fragmentation: Loss of contiguous corridors for flagship species in Western Ghats biodiversity hotspots
- Regulatory bottleneck: Balancing the Ministry of Power's infrastructure targets with the Ministry of Environment's conservation mandates
- Technical trade-off: High-capacity pumped storage requirements vs. irreversible degradation of local riverine ecosystems
Keywords: Habitat fragmentation · Ecological degradation · Pumped storage · Biodiversity conservation · Statutory oversight
More Environment & Ecology notes
- Gujarat lion population rises to 891, expanding territory by 430% · 17 July 2026
- Tamil Nadu Forms Panels to Examine 86 Dams for Safety by December 2026 · 17 July 2026
- The Indian Express reports that Delhi’s borders halt thousands of diesel trucks · 17 July 2026
- Floods and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh leave 1,03,860 stranded, 7 dead · 16 July 2026
- On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court expressed serious concern over green cover · 16 July 2026
- Darker Ice Spurs Faster Melting: Greenland Loses 105 Billion Tonnes in 2024-25 · 15 July 2026
Something wrong, or something missing?
Spotted a mistake in a note, or want a topic, format or PDF that would help your preparation? Write to us. We read every mail and fix errors fast.
This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.