The project includes the diversion of 174,652 hectares of untouched forest land for the 400 KV Goa-Tamnar transmission line to be routed through the sensitive areas of Western Ghats. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
It seems that in the main turning that could have a negative impact on western ghats
Although activists are struggling to change the government in the attitude, there is speculation that this is related to the wider political negotiations and the possible Quid Pro quo Pro Goa, which will clean up the Mahaday project, although it has not yet been officially confirmed.
More than a year ago, in March 2024, the Minister of Forest, the ecology and the Environment of Eshwar Khandre not only rejected the proposal to divert forest land in favor of the power lines, but also ordered the officials who approved the same.
But in communication issued by March 25, 2025, Brijesh Kumar, PCCF (Conservation Forest Conservation) wrote to another main secretary of Karnataka that the user agency may be required to seek alternative alignment and use modern technology to reduce the number of trees to be launched.
As a result, the main forest conservator, Belagavi/Dharwad/Kanar, was ordered to obtain a revised proposal according to the directing of the State Government through a jurisdiction representative of the forest and the User agency. A copy of the road was also issued to the manager, M/S/Goa-Tamnar Transmission Project Ltd.
This rolling of the State Government on the environmental problem with the serious consequences for the sensitive ecosystem of the Western Ghats has angry activists.
The conservationist Giridhar Kulkarni said there was no room for significant changes or overworking of the transmission line due to the nature of the landscape and terrain. He pointed out that last year another main secretary ordered the PCCF (leading forest force) to take measures to reject the proposal according to the instructions of the Minister of the Forest.
” Now the state government has ordered the forest department to inform the user agency to submit a revised proposal based on the same letter written by the PCCF. It is not known why the government has changed its own decision, ”said Kulkarni.
The transmission line project proposes to connect the existing power network in Narendra in the Dharwad district to Xeld in Goa. The original length of the transmission line is 94 km, of which 72 km pass through the forests in the state, of which 6.6 km through Tiger Reserve Anshi-dandeli.
The project includes a diversion of 174,652 hectares or 435,58 hectares of untouched forest land for the 400 KV Goa-Tamnar transmission line, which is to be routed through the sensitive areas of the western Ghats, including the Anshi-Dandeli Tiger Reserve. It is estimated that 35% of the approximately 73,000 trees in the proposed location will be lost if the project takes place and thus adversely affect the biological diversity.
“Not only is there no room for reworking the transmission line, but the original objections because the project proposal has been rejected is still valid. Therefore, the government turns are inexplicable,” Mr. Kulkari said.
Published – June 25, 2025 21:46
