Varahi project: MLC demands meeting of experts

Mangaluru: MLC Manjunath Bhandary has urged the minister of water resources to convene a meeting of environmentalists, experts, local representatives, and the public regarding the implementation of the Varahi Pumped Storage Project proposed at the Hosangadi Machchettu area in Kundapur taluk in Udupi district.The MLC said the issue was raised during the zero hour at the state legislature session. Bhandary said that he has insisted that the minister prepare the DPR for the project only after discussing the project's pros and cons with the experts. A DPR is being prepared for the pumped storage project in the ecologically sensitive regions of the Western Ghats. The DPR is likely to be submitted to the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL). The project is being implemented in the wildlife sanctuaries of Mookambika and Someshwara, tiger protection regions, and ecosensitive areas. Hence, an application was submitted to the National Wildlife Board seeking approval. The board gave its approval after several rounds of meetings. Following this, a tender to prepare the DPR for the project was awarded based on the approval of the board, Bhandary said. Though the project is being implemented in the ecologically sensitive region of the Western Ghats, it has not received any objections from the environmentalists and locals. Hence, preparations for the DPR are being expedited. The govt should immediately convene a meeting of environmentalists, experts, and residents before preparing the DPR for the pumped storage project, Bhandary said. He added that minister for water resources DK Shivakumar has been requested to take necessary initiatives to hold a meeting at the earliest.