For almost a year, ecologists in the state have been taking up cudgels against plans to start a major hydel project in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. The 200 MW power project across Gundia river in Hassan district threatens to submerge 750 hectares of land in the pristine Western Ghats and close to 1,000 hectares of forest land is proposed to be taken over to build the power project. Also, the project threatens the elephant corridor connecting several tiger reserves in Karnataka and neighbouring states, besides scores of endangered species.

Now that the state has already begun the work in Gundia region without even waiting for a clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, ecologists in the state are worried that the fight against the Gundia project might just peter out. The State government too is trying to pressure the Centre on the grounds that it has already invested money and machinery in the project and hence the clearance should be given.

Backing this, the Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydro Power Projects seems to be in favour of going ahead with the power project. What is even more shocking is that the EAC has also recommended that a study be taken up to assess the carrying capacity of the Western Ghats to accommodate more dams. Sources in the MoEF said a majority of the members, who attended the meetings during June and July, agreed to give permission for the Gundia project. “The Centre might give the green signal to two hydel projects which have run into rough weather due to opposition from ecologists in Karnataka and Kerala. But a final decision will be taken after another meeting,” the sources said.

The EAC is meeting again on Thursday and Friday in New Delhi and ecologists are keeping their fingers crossed over the final order. Power policy analyst Mr Shankar Sharma says: “It is sad to note that the EAC has refused to decline environmental clearance to Gundia hydel project in the sensitive Western Ghats. It is highly unfortunate that it has failed to appreciate the overall substance and objective of the report by a panel constituted by the MoEF. As an expert advisory body to MoEF, it is deplorable that EAC holds such a poor view of another expert ecology panel constituted under the same ministry”.

“In view of the huge damage associated with the large number of dam structures already existing in Western Ghats, would it not be prudent policy not to impose any further damage on these ecologically sensitive areas of the country through ill-conceived projects such as Gundia,” Mr Sharma asks.

Centre ignores experts’ reports
The green signal for the Gundia project might cause larger ecological imbalance in the region, fear
ecologists. Elephants moving from Gundia region are already disturbed due to the small-scale construction that has already been taken up by the government. For the first time, the Forest Department has recorded herds of elephants moving as close as Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada district.

What has shocked ecologists is the Centre’s attitude to the scientific reports, one of which was ordered by the MoEF itself. The reports prepared by Prof Madhav Gadgil and his team and another by the Indian Institute of Science on ‘Biodiversity and ecological significance of Gundia river catchment’ clearly recommended scrapping the power project across Gundia river. Another report, which is yet to be submitted, is being made by Dr Raman Sukumar, an elephant expert at the IISc.

Professor Madhav Gadgil, who headed a committee, also recommended cancellation of the 200 MW Gundia power project and the construction of another dam at Athirapilly in Kerala to generate 163 MW of power. According to the report prepared by the IISc, Gundia region is home to 36 per cent of plant species, 87 per cent of amphibians and 41 per cent of fish that are unique to the Western Ghats.

“The presence of four critically endangered and 14 endangered animal species in the region further emphasises the need for conservation of this region on priority as it provides a unique habitat. It is also recommended that considering the ecological significance and rich biodiversity, this region can be declared as an eco-sensitive region under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,” says Dr T.V. Ramachandra, who headed the study. “It will be a blunder if the Centre gives the nod for the Gundia project,” said a member of Western Ghats Ecological Committee, adding that the elephant corridor which passes through Gundia will be affected, thereby leading to an increase in human-elephant conflict in the region. Already, Hassan and Chikmagalur have witnessed several such instances in the past due to commissioning of hydel projects, he noted.