The Karnataka High Court has issued notice to the Centre and the State government on a public interest petition challenging environmental approvals granted for the ₹10,000 crore Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project. The project is proposed in Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada districts and involves land within the Sharavathi Valley Lion Macaque Sanctuary and its eco-sensitive zone. The petition questions whether the approvals are valid under wildlife protection law.
Project and Location
The project is planned as a pumped storage hydroelectric scheme, which typically uses water storage at different elevations to generate power during peak demand. The petition states that the project requires 142.763 hectares of land. Of this, about 102 hectares lie inside the sanctuary and 39.715 hectares fall within the eco-sensitive zone.
Legal Challenge
The petitioners have argued that approvals could not have been granted for a project located inside a wildlife sanctuary. They have relied on Section 29 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This provision restricts destruction, exploitation, removal of wildlife or forest produce, and also bars diversion of habitat or alteration of water flow, except under a permit issued for the improvement and better management of wildlife.
Approvals Under Scrutiny
The petition seeks to quash the approval granted by the State Wildlife Board in January 2025 and the in-principle approval granted by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife in June 2025. The petition contends that the Standing Committee has no authority to approve diversion of sanctuary land for a project that is not for the benefit of wildlife.
Key Issues Before Court
The case raises questions on the scope of wildlife sanctuary protection, the limits of statutory approval powers, and the balance between energy infrastructure and biodiversity conservation. The court’s notice marks the first step in judicial scrutiny of the project’s clearances.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026