The recent spate of tiger deaths in the Male Mahadeshwara (M.M.) Hills and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary has triggered widespread outrage among conservationists, forest officials, and local communities, leading to fresh demands for an immediate halt to mini-hydel power projects proposed in the region. The deaths, suspected to be linked to habitat degradation and increasing human interference, have reignited debates over the ecological costs of small-scale hydropower ventures. Environmentalists argue that these projects, though marketed as “green energy,” disrupt critical wildlife corridors, alter stream flows, and endanger species like tigers and elephants.
Officials from the Forest Department have confirmed that at least five tiger deaths have been recorded in the past six months within the contiguous forests of M.M. Hills and Cauvery. Preliminary investigations indicate that some may have died due to territorial fights intensified by shrinking habitat, while others fell prey to poaching or poisoning incidents. Experts stress that the construction of access roads and the diversion of natural water channels for mini-hydel projects have further fragmented these ecosystems. The situation has alarmed wildlife biologists, who describe the tiger deaths as a “red flag moment” for Karnataka’s conservation policy and an urgent call to reassess the trade-off between development and biodiversity protection.
Local residents, tribal leaders, and NGOs have now joined hands in demanding that the State government scrap all pending mini-hydel proposals within ecologically sensitive zones (ESZs) of the Cauvery landscape. They have also appealed to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to intervene and impose stricter safeguards for the movement of wildlife between sanctuaries. These communities, dependent on forest produce and eco-tourism, argue that their livelihoods are intertwined with the health of the forest. They claim that deforestation and stream diversion have already affected their access to clean water and reduced crop yields, adding a human cost to environmental damage.
Environmentalists have reiterated that Karnataka’s mini-hydel policy, though framed under the banner of renewable energy, has often overlooked the nuanced ecological impacts in sensitive forest areas. The M.M. Hills and Cauvery belt, part of one of India’s most biodiverse zones, hosts tigers, elephants, leopards, dholes, and numerous endemic plant species. The cascading effect of altering river systems has been catastrophic for aquatic life, riparian vegetation, and even soil fertility. Critics now argue that the very framework of environmental clearance in the State must be restructured to include long-term ecological monitoring rather than one-time assessments that fail to capture cumulative impacts.
In many of these hydel sites, local villagers have observed drastic changes in water availability over the past decade. Seasonal streams that once sustained their agriculture and livestock now run dry months earlier, while erratic water releases from project dams disrupt traditional irrigation schedules. This has deepened agrarian distress and increased dependence on government relief schemes. Tribal groups, including Soligas and Jenu Kurubas, have voiced that their ancestral lands have suffered irreversible damage, and sacred groves have been submerged or destroyed in the process. Their connection to the forest, both spiritual and material, is now under constant threat.
Wildlife researchers working in the Cauvery landscape have documented that habitat fragmentation caused by project roads and power lines directly correlates with the frequency of tiger dispersal conflicts. Young tigers attempting to establish territories increasingly venture close to human settlements, raising the risk of retaliatory killings. This pattern, seen in multiple tiger reserves across India, highlights how even small-scale projects can create disproportionately large ecological disturbances. These findings have been submitted to the NTCA, urging it to recognize hydel activity as a high-risk factor in tiger landscapes.
Meanwhile, satellite imagery and GIS data from the Karnataka Forest Department show alarming deforestation trends near mini-hydel construction zones. Between 2015 and 2023, over 1,200 hectares of forest cover in the Cauvery and M.M. Hills divisions have been lost or degraded. The fragmented canopy has disrupted natural shade patterns, leading to increased evaporation rates and altered microclimates. The loss of buffer vegetation has also made the region more vulnerable to invasive plant species such as Lantana camara, which outcompete native flora and reduce the quality of grazing grounds for herbivores.
The Karnataka Biodiversity Board has called for an urgent reassessment of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. In its latest report, the Board emphasized that mini-hydel proposals must undergo cumulative, landscape-level assessments rather than isolated project-level studies. It also recommended that each project be evaluated for its impact on wildlife corridors, not just aquatic systems. However, implementation remains inconsistent, as bureaucratic overlap between the Energy, Forest, and Revenue departments leads to diluted accountability. This governance gap continues to undermine the State’s conservation objectives.
Ecologists warn of irreversible damage
Ecologists from the Indian Institute of Science and Wildlife Institute of India have reiterated that the so-called “run-of-the-river” mini-hydel projects are not as benign as they appear. Studies have shown that such projects often alter hydrological regimes, cause soil erosion, and obstruct aquatic life migration. The M.M. Hills–Cauvery belt, being part of the Mysore-Nilgiri landscape, acts as a crucial link for large mammals moving between the Eastern and Western Ghats. Blocking these corridors with concrete structures can have irreversible consequences on tiger gene flow, eventually leading to inbreeding and population decline.
Forest officers have privately admitted that enforcement in these rugged terrains remains difficult, and encroachments frequently occur under the guise of development. They believe that halting construction and declaring buffer zones free from industrial activity is the only way to ensure long-term ecological stability. Many have urged the government to prioritize eco-tourism and community-led conservation as more sustainable alternatives to power generation in wildlife habitats.
Conservationists call for accountability and reform
Wildlife activists have also demanded accountability from the State Energy and Forest departments, accusing them of ignoring previous expert recommendations. They point out that the 2012 Karnataka High Court judgment had already emphasized the need to assess the cumulative ecological impact of all mini-hydel projects within the Cauvery basin. Despite this, several new proposals were cleared at the district level without comprehensive environmental impact assessments (EIA). Activists allege that these clearances often favor private developers at the expense of wildlife safety and local interests.
The State Wildlife Board is now under pressure to revisit its previous approvals in light of the tiger deaths. Senior forest officials have suggested imposing a complete moratorium on new hydel projects in ESZs until a thorough review is conducted. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sought a detailed report from the Environment and Forest Departments, calling the deaths “a tragic reminder of the fragile balance between progress and preservation.”
Local conservation groups like the Vanashakti Trust and the Cauvery Watch Collective have intensified their campaigns to halt all ongoing hydel constructions. They have begun filing public interest litigations (PILs) seeking a stay on projects operating within 10 kilometers of protected areas. Their argument is that any energy gain achieved through these projects is negligible compared to the irreversible loss of biodiversity. According to their data, Karnataka’s hydel capacity addition from such projects constitutes less than 2% of the State’s total renewable energy output, making the ecological trade-off unjustifiable.
Foresters have also highlighted the irony of such development at a time when Karnataka is investing heavily in eco-tourism and tiger safaris to promote conservation-based livelihoods. Mini-hydel projects that disrupt natural landscapes could undermine these economic opportunities by reducing wildlife sightings and damaging tourist trails. Moreover, shrinking tiger populations could lead to downgrading of Karnataka’s status as a key tiger State under the NTCA’s evaluation framework, potentially affecting national and international funding for conservation.
Veteran conservationist Joseph Hoover remarked that the government’s approach often treats wildlife conservation as a “soft issue,” secondary to industrial growth. He noted that Karnataka’s forested river basins are already overstressed due to sand mining, encroachments, and linear infrastructure. Allowing mini-hydel projects here, he said, is akin to “placing straws in a drying well.” He called for a complete moratorium on new approvals until a comprehensive policy review is conducted in consultation with ecologists and tribal representatives.
Public anger over tiger deaths has also translated into online activism. Hashtags demanding “#SaveCauveryTigers” and “#NoHydelInWildlifeZones” have gained traction, mobilizing thousands of citizens to sign petitions addressed to the Chief Minister. The movement has drawn support from artists, students, and rural cooperatives, transforming it from an ecological issue into a civil society crusade for responsible governance. Such public pressure has prompted the government to promise a transparent review process, though activists remain cautious about the sincerity of such assurances.
Officials close to the Chief Minister revealed that a cabinet subcommittee may soon be formed to examine hydel projects across Karnataka’s tiger landscapes. The panel will include experts from the Forest Department, environmental scientists, and members of civil society organizations. It is expected to recommend specific exclusion zones and review the cumulative environmental damage caused by already sanctioned projects. Sources say the committee could also propose converting defunct hydel sites into community-managed eco-restoration zones, allowing local people to lead reforestation efforts.
Amid this turbulence, wildlife veterinarians and field staff continue to work under immense pressure, attending to injured animals and monitoring the health of surviving tigers. Many operate with limited resources and in challenging terrains, often without proper equipment or vehicles. Despite their efforts, mortality rates remain concerning. The deaths of apex predators, experts warn, indicate deeper ecosystem imbalances that may soon affect other species, from deer to birds of prey. Without structural change, they fear Karnataka’s tiger strongholds could witness gradual decline within a decade.
As Karnataka observes Wildlife Week, the tragedy in M.M. Hills and Cauvery serves as a sobering reminder that conservation cannot coexist with unchecked exploitation. The mounting deaths of apex predators underline the interconnectedness of ecosystems — when one link weakens, the entire chain falters. For many, rejecting mini-hydel projects is not merely about saving tigers; it’s about safeguarding the soul of Karnataka’s forests and the communities that thrive within them.
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