Honnavar, September 17, 2025 – The Sharavati Nadi Kanive Horata Samithi has vehemently opposed the Sharavati Pumped Storage Underground Hydroelectric Project, labeling its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report as “completely false, misleading, and biased in favor of the project.” The committee has submitted detailed objections to the district administration ahead of the public hearing scheduled for September 18 in Uppinangady, Gerusoppe, urging residents to attend and voice their concerns.

In a strongly worded statement, the committee dismissed the EIA as a “bundle of lies,” accusing it of ignoring the project’s devastating impacts on downstream villages, farmers, fishermen, and the river ecosystem from Gerusoppe onwards. “The report fails to even minimally address the adverse effects on the Sharavati river basin, local communities, and riparian environment,” it stated.

The committee highlighted several critical issues: saltwater intrusion from the Arabian Sea, already affecting 15 km of the river during summer due to mismanagement of Gerusoppe reservoir water levels by Karnataka Power Corporation (KPC), exacerbating salinity for thousands of farmers and residents. Scientists warn that the pumped storage project could reverse river flow, allowing saltwater to penetrate further upstream to Gerusoppe, a risk the EIA and Central Review Committee (CRZ) authority have overlooked.

Furthermore, the underground tunneling—30 feet in diameter over 14 km using explosives—poses severe threats of land subsidence and earthquakes, endangering lives, infrastructure, and dams. The committee estimates the project could displace or devastate livelihoods for over 100,000 farmers and fishermen, leading to crop failures, fish scarcity, and forced consumption of brackish water.

The group questioned the timing of the public hearing, noting that contractors have already been appointed for implementation, suggesting the process is a mere formality. It demanded a comprehensive review, including seismic studies, before any approvals from the Pollution Control Board or district administration. Forest diversion and NGT clearance are still pending, yet the project has advanced to the hearing stage.