Hearing on Dandeli power project today

By Our Special Correspondent
Bangalore, Aug. 20


The public hearing on the proposed Dandeli Mini Hydel Project, which is being opposed by environmentalists, is likely to be held on August 21 at Karwar, the district head quarters of Uttara Kannada district. The state government cleared the Rs 180 crore project on June 5 (World Environment Day) during the Global Investors’ Meet held in Bangalore.

According to the project proposal cleared by the government, there will be two units, of 9 MW capacity each. The local people, besides non-governmental organisations, are opposing the project as they fear it will threaten the area’s sensitive eco-system.

While the rapid environmental impact assessment study prepared by a consultant, Ernest and Young, at the behest of the Murudeshwar Power Corporation Limited which is implementing the project, estimated that over 83 hectares of the forest will be affected under the project, the Vriksha Laksha Andolan, a non-governmental organisation maintains that nearly 1,500 hectares of forest is likely to be submerged under the dam to be constructed downstream of Supa dam across Kali river.

The Vriksha Laksha Andolan, in its independent study carried out on the project-site, maintained, that although the Murudeshwar Power Corporation had sought to reduce the height of the dam to 78 meters from the 88 meters originally proposed, it would still have an adverse impact on the forests.

Since 42,000 acres of forest land has already been submerged along the Kali river due to various other projects, it would be entirely inappropriate for the government to sanction the Dandeli power project, the NGO maintained.

While the proposal cleared by the government says that there are no endangered species in the area, the NGO, in its study, enlisted over 200 species belonging to 44 families. The study has claimed to have found nearly 23 medicinal plant species in the area.

Former secretary to forest department A.N. Yallappa Reddy, whose opinion was also incorporated in the report, maintained that the forest in and around Dandeli should be protected. The density of forest is high at this area. Since the proposed dam site is just 22 km away from the Anshi National Park, it is not appropriate to execute the project, he said.