April 16, 2026
- To protect biodiversity in the Sharavathi Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary in Karnataka, the Karnataka High Court issued an interim order to stop construction operations associated with the Kalkatte Bridge and the Sharavanthi Pumped Storage Project.
- The construction of the hydroelectric project, which intends to produce 2,000 megawatts (MW) of energy, is proposed to take place in part of the sanctuary’s area.
- The order came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL), which flagged issues regarding the environmental effects of the project.
- Underscoring the impact of the project, particularly on the endangered lion-tailed macaques, the court decided to stop operations till environmental and other factors are evaluated.
Lion-tailed Macaque | Image for representational purposes
