Karnataka CM Shivakumar seeks NBWL nod for Sharavathi, Mekedatu projects
Synopsis
Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar travelled to New Delhi to personally lobby Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on three fronts simultaneously: fast-tracking NBWL clearances for the Sharavathi and Mekedatu projects, and halting the Western Ghats ESA notification until a physical survey is done — a high-stakes push that touches wildlife law, river-water politics, and the livelihoods of thousands.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar met Union Minister Bhupender Yadav at Paryavaran Bhawan, New Delhi on 22 October .
He sought expedited NBWL Standing Committee clearance for the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project , with Karnataka having already submitted the required NIAS technical report .
For the Mekedatu project , approval is sought only for geotechnical survey of 20 boreholes covering 0.0000352 hectares in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary — no land diversion at this stage.
Shivakumar urged the Centre not to finalise the seventh draft Western Ghats ESA notification (dated 27 July ) until a physical survey and the state HLC report are complete.
He had written to PM Narendra Modi on 25 September on the same ESA concern.
The Eco Cane Sugar and Energy Ltd. factory in Belagavi , employing 500 workers and supporting 5,000 families , was flagged for exclusion from the proposed eco-sensitive zone.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 22 October met Union Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav at Paryavaran Bhawan in New Delhi, urging the Centre to fast-track approvals from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for two critical infrastructure projects — the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project and the Mekedatu balancing reservoir and drinking water project.
Sharavathi Project: Where Approval Stands
Shivakumar told the minister that the Sharavathi proposal was last taken up at the 89th meeting of the NBWL Standing Committee on 28 February this year. At that meeting, the technical committee had directed the state government or the user agency to address specific queries and submit a technical report from the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.
The Karnataka government has since fulfilled both conditions, submitting the NIAS technical report along with responses to all queries raised by the Standing Committee. Shivakumar urged Yadav, in his capacity as Chairman of the NBWL Standing Committee, to expedite the examination and issue recommendations.
Mekedatu: Survey-Stage Clearance Sought
On the Mekedatu project, Shivakumar confirmed that a proposal seeking permission to drill 20 boreholes for geotechnical investigations within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary was submitted to the Union Ministry on 1 July. The investigation would cover a total area of 0.0000352 hectares within the sanctuary.
The Chief Minister was careful to clarify that the proposal covers only survey and investigation activities and does not seek diversion of any protected-area land at this stage. The Ministry had, reportedly, sought documents related to the status of petitions pending before the Supreme Court of India concerning the project; the state government said it would furnish the required information shortly.
Western Ghats ESA Notification: Karnataka Pushes Back
Shivakumar also pressed Yadav not to finalise the seventh draft notification — issued by the Ministry on 27 July — that proposes to declare parts of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) based on the Kasturirangan Committee report.
He disclosed that he had already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25 September, requesting that no final decision be taken until the state government's High-Level Committee (HLC) submitted its report and a full physical survey was completed within one year. The Chief Minister urged that any further action be undertaken in consultation with the Karnataka government after both exercises are concluded.
Belagavi Sugar Factory: Exemption Requested
Separately, Shivakumar requested the Centre to exclude the Eco Cane Sugar and Energy Ltd. sugar factory in Belagavi from the proposed eco-sensitive zone. He argued that the factory commenced operations before 2016 and should therefore be exempt from ESA restrictions. The plant employs around 500 workers, with approximately 5,000 families depending on it for their livelihoods — a humanitarian dimension, he said, that the Centre must weigh before finalising the notification.
All three requests will now await a response from the Union Ministry, with the NBWL Standing Committee's next meeting date yet to be announced.
Point of View
And even a survey-stage clearance will draw scrutiny from downstream stakeholders. On the Western Ghats ESA front, Karnataka is not alone in resisting the Kasturirangan notification — several Ghats states have raised similar objections — but the absence of a finalised physical survey gives the Centre legitimate cover to delay, which can cut both ways. The Belagavi sugar factory inclusion, while framed on livelihood grounds, also signals that the ESA boundary-drawing process remains contested at the granular level, a fact that will complicate any notification timeline the Centre attempts.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project and why does it need NBWL approval?
The Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project is a hydropower initiative in Karnataka that falls within or adjacent to a wildlife-protected area, requiring clearance from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) before construction can proceed. The proposal was last examined at the 89th NBWL Standing Committee meeting on 28 February, where the state was asked to submit a technical report from NIAS, Bengaluru — a condition Karnataka says it has now fulfilled.
What exactly is Karnataka seeking for the Mekedatu project at this stage?
Karnataka is seeking permission only to drill 20 boreholes for geotechnical investigations inside the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, covering just 0.0000352 hectares. Chief Minister Shivakumar clarified that the proposal does not involve any diversion of protected-area land and is limited to survey and investigation work at this stage.
Why is Karnataka opposing the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area notification?
Karnataka argues that the seventh draft ESA notification, issued on 27 July and based on the Kasturirangan Committee report, should not be finalised until the state's High-Level Committee submits its findings and a full physical survey of the proposed zone is completed within one year. CM Shivakumar had separately written to PM Narendra Modi on 25 September with the same request.
Why has Karnataka asked for the Belagavi sugar factory to be excluded from the eco-sensitive zone?
The Eco Cane Sugar and Energy Ltd. factory in Belagavi commenced operations before 2016, which Shivakumar cited as grounds for exemption from ESA restrictions. The plant supports around 500 direct employees and approximately 5,000 dependent families, and Karnataka has urged the Centre to factor in these livelihood considerations before finalising the zone boundaries.
What happens next after Shivakumar's meeting with Bhupender Yadav?
The NBWL Standing Committee, chaired by Yadav, will determine when both the Sharavathi and Mekedatu proposals are placed on its agenda for examination and recommendation. On the Western Ghats ESA, the Union Ministry will decide whether to await the Karnataka HLC report and physical survey before issuing a final notification — a timeline that remains open-ended.
