Sat Apr 26 17:37:00 UTC 2025: ## Controversial Hydroelectric Project Sparks Outrage in India’s Nilgiris
**Coonoor, Tamil Nadu –** A proposed 1,000-megawatt Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu is facing fierce opposition from local residents and environmental activists who accuse the government of a lack of transparency and disregard for their safety concerns.
The project, estimated to cost over ₹5,843 crore, involves the construction of two large dams and extensive tunneling, raising fears of landslides and habitat destruction in this ecologically sensitive region. Residents of Bellathycombai and 30 other villages, many of whom are Adivasi, report hearing unexplained explosions near the proposed site. While officials claim these are site-stability tests, residents allege a lack of information and consultation.
A public consultation meeting scheduled by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in March was abruptly cancelled, fueling suspicions of a deliberate attempt to avoid protests. Despite assurances from the Collector that the project would proceed only with unanimous consent, numerous demonstrations and even a religious procession (“Sillahalla kaavadi”) have taken place to oppose the project.
Activists have filed Right to Information (RTI) requests for details on the project and the use of explosives, but have received no response. They also express concern that preliminary work, including road construction and blasting, has commenced before proper public consultation and environmental clearances have been obtained.
Venugopal Dharmalingam of the Nilgiri Documentation Center has written to UNESCO, highlighting the project’s potential impact on the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site. He points out that the Nilgiris has already reached its hydropower capacity and that the project site falls within the reserve’s core zone, where such activities are prohibited.
Experts like hydro-ecologist Gokul Halan warn of the region’s susceptibility to landslides due to its geological makeup and the potential for induced seismicity from tunneling and blasting. The project’s proximity to Mukurthi National Park and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve further exacerbates environmental concerns, with conservationists warning of habitat fragmentation and increased risks for endangered species.
While the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) claims no homesteads will be affected and that a Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (CEIA) has been conducted, critics demand transparency and public access to the assessment. They argue that the government’s actions undermine public trust and disregard established environmental regulations. The controversy underscores the ongoing tension between development and environmental protection in India.
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