Eshwarappa, Environmentalists Demand CBI Probe Into Sharavathi Project Corruption Charges

Former Karnataka Minister K.S. Eshwarappa and environmental group Parisarakkagi Naavu have alleged large-scale corruption in the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the project. The allegations were raised at a press conference in Shivamogga, where Mr. Eshwarappa questioned the manner in which the project was being implemented. The project has also faced legal and environmental scrutiny over the required clearances and ongoing work.

Mr. Eshwarappa’s organisation, Rashtrabhaktara Balaga, and Parisarakkagi Naavu claimed that the project implementing agency, Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), had not yet obtained the required clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. They raised concerns over the progress of the project despite the alleged absence of the necessary environmental approval. The groups said the circumstances warranted an independent investigation into the project.

According to Mr. Eshwarappa, the Karnataka High Court had also stayed work related to the project. He questioned how financial transactions could have proceeded despite the legal and regulatory issues surrounding the proposed project. The former Minister alleged that KPCL had already paid ₹380 crore to Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited, the company that secured the project contract.

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The payment has become a central point of the allegations raised by Mr. Eshwarappa and the environmental activists. They have sought an examination of the circumstances under which the contract was awarded and the payment was made. The groups have called for the CBI to investigate the project’s financial and administrative decisions, including the alleged payment to the contractor.

The Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project has attracted attention because of its potential implications for the ecologically sensitive Sharavathi region. Environmental concerns surrounding large infrastructure and power projects typically involve questions about forest land, biodiversity, water resources and the impact of construction activities. The latest allegations add a political dimension to the continuing debate over the project and its implementation.

Rashtrabhaktara Balaga and Parisarakkagi Naavu have maintained that a detailed investigation is necessary to establish whether there were violations of legal procedures or financial irregularities. Their demand for a CBI inquiry puts the spotlight on KPCL's handling of the project, the contractor selection process and the reported payment. The allegations remain claims made by the former Minister and environmental activists, and any findings of wrongdoing would require investigation and verification by the competent authorities.

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