No Water in Kabini for Chamalapura Coal Fired Power Plant

ESG has strongly advocated against the the aggressive promotion of coal fired thermal power plants in Karnataka. Over the past year, ESG has worked closely with communities potentially affected by the proposal to locate a thermal power plant at Chamalapura, near Mysore. ESG deposed before the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission against the project on grounds that there is simply no water in the Kabini river to support a power plants demands.

Read the Submission made by ESG to KERC

Download the Press Release

Campaign Against Privatisation of Lakes

The East India Hotels Ltd (Oberois) have entered into a contract with the Lake Development Authority under the Private Public Partnership Model for the maintenance of Bangalore's heritage Hebbal Tank based on a lease period of 15 years - extendable by 10 years. Read more

ESG has filed a PIL which arrays a range of legal concerns relating to the ongoing privatisation of lakes/tanks in Bangalore and fundamentally exposes such actions to be opposed to settled legal norms relating to management and conservation of such ecologically sensitive water bodies which are also wildlife habitats. The Karnataka High Court has admitted ESG's PIL against Privatisation of Lakes and Issued an Emergent Notice to Respondents - Read the Press Release. Download the PIL filed by ESG

Hasiru Usiru - Concerned people Unite against Tree felling

A public consultation on “Road widening schemes of Bengaluru: Impacts and Alternatives” was jointly organised by Environment Support Group (ESG), Civic and Alternative Law Forum (ALF), public interest not for profit organisations responding to governance, planning, social and environmental justice causes. The consultation was held under the banner of Hasiru Usiru on 20th December 2007. Read the Report of the public consultation.

BMIC Controversy - Resorting to violence and Intimidation

Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) Project is one of the most controversial urban infrastructure development projects in India.

On 25 October 2007, ESG Team members and several international students and faculty were assaulted by a large group of men while traveling on the Peripheral Road of Bangalore from Kanakapura to Mysore Road. This dastardly attack was led by Mr. Ashok Kheny, Managing Director of NICE Ltd., his PRO Mr. Manjunath, and several scores of his security men. Enclosed are pictures of this assault. Read more

A Nice road goes dangerously off-course - An article in Indian Architect and Builder - May 2007

Mangalore Petrochemical SEZ Environmental Public Hearing Ended Abruptly

In what is turning out to be another aggressive effort to push ahead
with a Special Economic Zone, the Deputy Commissioner of Mangalore
district in Karnataka, Mr. Maheshwar Rao, IAS, decided to abruptly
end proceedings of a statutory Environmental Public Hearing being held
in Bajpe town on 28 November 2007. Read more

Green Tapism: A Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification - 2006

The Environment Impact Assessment Notification (EIA Notification) issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) per the Environment Protection Act, 1986 is amongst the most critical legislative instruments covering key aspects of environmental decision making including assessment of prospective environmental and social impacts of proposed developments. Read more

Environmental and Social Concerns Brushed Aside at West Coast Paper Mills, Dandeli, Karnataka

The 20th February 2007 Environmental Public Hearing for the proposed Rs. 1260 crore expansion and modernisation of West Coast Paper Mills Limited (WCPM) was marred by chaotic scenes of heckling, intimidation, and hooliganism. Read Press Release

Supa dam displaced lease out lands to paper mill - Down to Earth - Jan 2008