Tag: Honnavara

Honnavar, September 17, 2025 – The Sharavati Nadi Kanive Horata Samithi has vehemently opposed the Sharavati Pumped Storage Underground Hydroelectric Project, labeling its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report as “completely false, misleading, and biased in favor of the project.” The committee has submitted detailed objections to the district administration ahead of the public hearing scheduled for September 18 in Uppinangady, Gerusoppe, urging residents to attend and voice their concerns.

In a strongly worded statement, the committee dismissed the EIA as a “bundle of lies,” accusing it of ignoring the project’s devastating impacts on downstream villages, farmers, fishermen, and the river ecosystem from Gerusoppe onwards. “The report fails to even minimally address the adverse effects on the Sharavati river basin, local communities, and riparian environment,” it stated.

The committee highlighted several critical issues: saltwater intrusion from the Arabian Sea, already affecting 15 km of the river during summer due to mismanagement of Gerusoppe reservoir water levels by Karnataka Power Corporation (KPC), exacerbating salinity for thousands of farmers and residents. Scientists warn that the pumped storage project could reverse river flow, allowing saltwater to penetrate further upstream to Gerusoppe, a risk the EIA and Central Review Committee (CRZ) authority have overlooked.

Furthermore, the underground tunneling—30 feet in diameter over 14 km using explosives—poses severe threats of land subsidence and earthquakes, endangering lives, infrastructure, and dams. The committee estimates the project could displace or devastate livelihoods for over 100,000 farmers and fishermen, leading to crop failures, fish scarcity, and forced consumption of brackish water.

The group questioned the timing of the public hearing, noting that contractors have already been appointed for implementation, suggesting the process is a mere formality. It demanded a comprehensive review, including seismic studies, before any approvals from the Pollution Control Board or district administration. Forest diversion and NGT clearance are still pending, yet the project has advanced to the hearing stage.

Honnavar, August 26, 2025 – A theft incident was reported in Kasturaba Nagar, Shirasi, Honnavar, where unknown perpetrators stole all four tyres, along with their rims, from a Maruti Omni vehicle owned by Satish Shetty. The theft occurred between 6:30 PM on Saturday, August 23, 2025, and 8:30 AM on Sunday, August 24, 2025. Satish Shetty promptly filed a complaint at the Honnavar Police Station, leading to the registration of a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, likely Section 305 for theft, which carries a penalty of up to two years imprisonment, a fine, or both.

The Honnavar police have launched an investigation

Honnavar, August 17, 2025 – Dr. Shanthi Nayak, a distinguished litterateur, folklorist, and former district president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, passed away on the night of August 15, 2025, at the age of 85 due to age-related ailments. Honoring her noble wish, her family donated her body to Karwar Medical College for medical research on August 16, 2025, and her eyes to the Lions Charitable Trust’s Revankar Eye Hospital in Kumta on the night of her passing, exemplifying a meaningful contribution to science and society even in death.

A native of Belekeri in Ankola taluk, Dr. Shanthi Nayak was the wife of renowned litterateur Dr. N.R. Nayak. Holding an M.A. degree, she served as a teacher and gained widespread recognition for her extensive research and writings on folklore. Her literary contributions enriched the cultural landscape of Karnataka, making her a cherished figure in the literary community. Her demise is an irreplaceable loss to the district’s literary sphere.

On August 16, 2025, from early morning until 11:00 AM, arrangements were made for the public to pay their final respects at her residence in Honnavar. Hundreds of dignitaries, litterateurs, educationists, and members of the public gathered to offer their tributes, reflecting her profound impact on the community.