Sillahalla Power Project

News– The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) recently canceled the public hearing for the Silahalla Power Project in the Nilgiris due to strong public opposition and environmental concerns. Sillahalla Power Project.

About Sillahalla Power Project

• Type: Pumped storage hydroelectric project by Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO).
• Location: Kundah Taluk, Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu.
• Objective: To generate 1,000 MW electricity to meet peak power demand.
• Associated Rivers: Silahalla stream (tributary of the Kundah River), which ultimately feeds into the Bhavani River (a tributary of the Cauvery River).

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve – Key Facts Geographical Location: Situated in: The Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. Spread across: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. Major Protected Areas within the reserve: Tamil Nadu: Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Mukurthi National Park. Kerala: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Silent Valley National Park. Karnataka: Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park. Vegetation– Tropical evergreen forests, montane sholas, grasslands, moist deciduous forests, and thorn forests. Flora– It is home to 132 endemic plant species, including rare species like Adenoon, Calacanthus, and Frerea. Fauna: It hosts the largest population of Nilgiri Tahr and Lion-tailed macaque, along with elephants, tigers, gaurs, sambars, and chitals. Significance– It is the first UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve in India (1986) under the Man and Biosphere Programme.