Ecologist Warns Nilgiris Hydroelectric Project Threatens Sacred Toda Land and Wildlife

According to an ecologist, the planned Upper Bhavani pumped storage hydroelectric project in the Nilgiris region poses a grave threat to the sacred land of the Toda people and the area's teeming wildlife. The project involves blasting near the Devar Betta Hill, one of the most sacred hills for the Todas, which the ecologist describes as "the veritable Mount Meru of our area." This, he says, would be a "sacrilege for which future generations would pay the price."

The project's impact extends beyond the Toda's sacred sites. Ecologist Dr. Tarun Chhabra warns that the flooded reservoirs have already destroyed the immense biodiversity of the region's wetlands and now threaten the stability of the surrounding pristine hillsides. Additionally, the project falls within the buffer zone of the Mukurthi National Park, which is being considered for tiger reserve status due to its high carnivore population. Conservationist N. Mohanraj notes that the area is a crucial corridor linking Mudumalai and Silent Valley National Parks, as well as an important migratory pathway for elephants.

Despite these concerns, the environmental regulatory authorities have approved the project's terms of reference for environmental clearance. The managing director of the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation states that any measures suggested to limit the impact on the local ecology will be implemented. However, the ecologist argues that the destroyed land and ancient Shola forests cannot be restored, and the project's benefits do not outweigh the immense cost to the region's sacred sites and biodiversity.