The Karnataka government has spent ₹382 crore on the proposed 2,000 MW Sharavathi pumped storage project between 2021 and 2026, including ₹360 crore on preliminary EPC works and DPR preparation. Execution delays and repeated site surveys have driven up the overall estimated project cost from ₹8,800 crore to nearly ₹10,240 crore.
Located in Shivamogga district, the project falls within the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats and the Lion-Tailed Macaque Reserve. It remains pending statutory clearance, with the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) expected to review the proposal and a study by the National Institute of Advanced Studies during its upcoming November meeting.
News by Rahul Yelligetti.