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Gundia Hydro Electric Project: Panel to recommend sustainable development

‘Energy not at the cost of ecology’


Ronald Anil Fernandes

HONGADAHALLA (GUNDIA
PROJECT SITE, HASSAN
DIST): There is a need for en-
ergy security, but not at the
cost of ecology and environ-
ment, said Dr G V Subra-
manyan, Advisor to Union
Ministry of Environment
and Forests (MoEF), after
visiting Horibetta, Bet-
takumeri and Hongadahalla,
the proposed sites for Gun-
dia Hydro Electric Project
(GHEP) to be constructed in
Hassan and Dakshina Kan-
nada districts, on Thursday.

In fact, the team’s visit is the


first in the series of visits to
study Western Ghats region.
Terming the beauty of West-
ern Ghats as unparalleled, he
stressed the need to maintain
balance between energy securi-
ty and ecology.
Explaining the objective of
Western Ghats Ecology Panel
constituted by the MoEF to
study the Western Ghats, he UNDER THREAT: A panoramic view of Bettakumeri, the proposed site for Hongadahalla Dam in Hassan district. The paddy fields
said the expert panel would as- below will submerge if the dam is constructed. Right: Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel Chairman Madhav Gadgil during an
sess, study and recommend for inspection of the location where the Gundia Hydro Electric Power Project is proposed to come up. DH PHOTOS
rejuvenation and to ensure sus-
tainable development of West-
ern Ghat region. The study
would also help to demarcate
the area to be notified as ecolo-
Terming the proposed site of
Gundia project as the “last re-
mains of the original Western
betta, where the 7.8 km under-
ground headrace tunnel and 3.1
km tailrace tunnel will pass
(both deputy directors, MoEF),
Bio Fuel Task Force Chairman
Y B Ramakrishna, Western
bio-diversity-rich and environ-
mentally-sensitive Western
Ghats region, on July 13, 2010.
‘Hottest hot spot’
gy-sensitive area based on scien-
tific assessment.
Ghats rain forest,” Prof M D
Subash Chandran, a scientist
through about 100 metres un-
derground, could find several
Ghats Task Force member Ran-
jan Rao Yaradoor and IISc Sci-
The Expert Appraisal Com-
mittee (EAC) has considered should be conserved,
March 2011 deadline
Speaking on the occasion,
from IISc and Member of Biodi-
versity Board of Karnataka, said
the project passes through very
rare species of trees.
They include Mesua Ferrea
(Naga Sampige), Calophyllum
entist Dr Harish Bhat.

Expert panel
this project thrice since 2008
and in its June 30, 2010 meet-
ing in Delhi, finally decided to
says IISc study
Western Ghats Ecology Expert rich endemic land, where en- Aomestosum (Surhonne), It may be recalled that the scrap the Hongadahalla dam HONGADAHALLA (HASSAN rare and endemic fauna of the
Panel Chairman Prof Madhav dangered animal species move Elueocarpus (Rudraksha), MoEF had referred the Gun- from the scheme. Now, the total DIST): A study made by Energy Western Ghats.
Gadgil clarified that the panel is around freely and the hill tops Myristieg (Rampatri), Tree dia hydel power project to the land requirement has de- and Wetland Research Group, “The premium should be on
only an advisory body to make and many slopes having luxuri- ferns (Cyathea), Pinanga dick- Western Ghats Ecology Expert creased from 1,041 ha to 478.96 Centre for Ecological Sciences, conservation of the remaining
recommendations and a final ous grass lands favourable for sonii (Kadadakke), Dipterocar- panel, under the chairmanship ha (private land 71.98 ha, forest Indian Institute of Sciences evergreen and semi-evergreen
decision on the Gundia project wildlife. pus (Gurjan) and many more. of Prof Madhav Gadgil to look land 113.22 ha and revenue land (IISc) on - “Biodiversity, Ecolo- forests, which are vital for the
will be taken by the MoEF. The Interestingly, the panel mem- Other experts in the team in- at the development and envi- including river course is 293.76 gy and Socio-Economic aspects water security and food securi-
panel will submit its report by bers, during their very short vis- cluded panel member Vidya ronmental issues in the context ha). of Gundia River Basin in the ty,” it states.
March 2011, he said. it to the dense forests in Hori- Nayak, Niraj Kathri and Amith of the ecologically-significant, DH News Service context of proposed mega hy-
dro electric power project” re- Short-sighted
affirms that Gundia Basin in Stating that the short-sighted

Divergent views on the project emerge at meet central Western Ghats is


‘hottest hot spot’ with a reposi-
tory of biological wealth of rare
development project poses a
threat to the ecology and biodi-
versity of the area, it said the
kind, both in its aquatic and ter- submergence of forest region
HONGADAHALLA, HASSAN a prestige issue. He also re- facts regarding the transmis- |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| restrial eco-systems. and other associated activities
DISTRICT: “If Hassan can quested the panel to take steps sion line, tunnel, roads and will cause habitat fragmenta-
generate 200 MW of power to stop mini hydel projects, as township among many other Villagers supporting the project Holistic eco-system tion and shrinkage.
using windmills, why cannot nearly 40 mini hydel projects issues. A few villagers said that they want the project to come up in The study made by IISc scien- “This will ultimately enhance
the Karnataka Power Corpo- are coming up in the Western KPCL Executive Engineer the proposed site. tists T V Ramachandra, M D the human-animal conflicts in
ration Limited (KPCL) look Ghats region alone. Radhakrishna who was present Gundia Jala Vidyut Para Horata Samiti President H S Kusha- Subash Chandran, Harish Bhat, the region,” it said.
for alternative steps to pro- Samiti President H A Kishore at the public meet said that he lappa said they stopped cultivating their land as the survey G R Rao, Sumesh Dudmani, M Terming the project as eco-
duce 400 MW of power, in- Kumar, in his submission to the was not aware of the visit of Ex- work for the project has been going on for the last 20 years. Boominathan, Vishnu Mukri logically unsound and econom-
stead of destroying the pre- panel, stated that the project is pert Panel and public meet. The villagers are facing several problems that include dis- and S Bharath on the invitation ically unviable, the study men-
cious Western Ghat region,” against the Supreme Court “I came to the spot only after eases to cardamom crop, wild elephant menace and lack of of Western Ghats Ecology Ex- tioned in detail the species to be
questioned Mohan, the hon- guidelines which states that no reading newspaper reports,”he other basic civic amenities. “We are ready to hand over our pert Panel Chairman Madhav affected which includes birds,
orary wildlife warden of Has- mega project should come up in said and clarified that the KPCL land if we get suitable compensation,”he said. Gadgil, indicates strongly the reptiles, mammals and butter-
san district. 10 km vicinity of wildlife sanctu- is not against environment. Hongadahalla Gram Panchayat member Radhakrishna too need for adoption of holistic flies, besides the elephant-re-
Deposing his views before ary. “We need about 7,000 to 8,000 said that about 90 per cent of the villagers are ready to part eco-system management for serve and elephant-corridor.
the Western Ghats Ecology Ex- “The Pushpagiri Wildlife MW of additional power,” he with their land. “Those who are opposing the project are not conservation of particularly the DH News Service
pert Panel Chairman Prof Mad- Sanctuaryishardly9 5kmfrom said and added that the KPCL from the village and most of the villagers are not opposing

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