The Uttara Kannada Bachao Andolan has opposed a proposed mini hydroelectric power project in Shalmala valley in Uttara Kannada district.
Shivram Gaonkar, president of the organisation, told presspersons recently that the government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bengaluru-based Kare Power Resources Ltd. in 2010 with a lease period of 50 years. The company submitted a project report too. He displayed a copy of the MoU secured through an RTI application. Mr. Gaonkar said that the height of the dam will be 4 metres and the capacity would be 24 MW. The height might be increased later, he said.
Mr. Gaonkar alleged that the government was hiding facts about the project from the people. “Uttara Kannada district is already burdened with such projects and problems because of them have not been solved. ,” he said.
Mr. Gaonkar said the loss of natural forests in the Western Ghats so far because of various projects were Kodasalli dam (1,360 hectares), Bommanalli dam (1,524 hectares), Supa dam (1,067 hectares), Kaiga Nuclear Plant (732 hectares), naval base at Karwar (2,259 hectares), naval base air station (1,000 hectares), naval base residence colony (594 hectares), Sharavati tail race (700 hectares) and Kadra dam (3,015 hectares). Mr. Gaonkar said that the government had permitted 26 mini hydel projects in Uttara Kannada district in six years since 2006.
