The community in Sagar taluk, located within Karnataka’s Shivamogga district, has collectively decided to initiate an indefinite protest against the controversial Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project. This significant step was resolved on a recent Saturday, highlighting widespread concerns.
Dinesh Shiravjala, who presides over the Raitha Sangha in Shivamogga district, announced on Thursday that a diverse group, including local citizens, leaders from various political parties, and spiritual heads (seers) from different mutts, have all vocalized their opposition to the project. They contend that this undertaking poses a serious threat to the region’s pristine forest and its status as a critical biodiversity hotspot. “We are commencing an indefinite protest right outside the Assistant Commissioner’s office in Sagar,” Shiravjala stated, urging both the general public and elected representatives to lend their support to the demonstration.
Environmentalist Akhilesh Chipli further elaborated on the potential ecological damage, emphasizing that the project would severely impact the area’s ecologically sensitive forest, a renowned habitat for the endangered lion-tailed macaque. Chipli also criticized the government’s continued justifications for the project, suggesting that official claims about its benefits to Sagar taluk are unconvincing. He alleged, “Despite repeated protests and strong opposition, the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited remains unyielding. It appears this project has been designed primarily to enrich contractors, not the community.”