Adani dam plan puts fear of doom in the villagers of Jawadhu hills

A proposed ₹10,094-crore, 1,800-MW pumped-storage project in Tamil Nadu’s Jawadhu Hills has sparked fear and opposition among tribal communities living in and around Alleri.

The project, proposed by Adani Green Energy, involves two reservoirs, dams, tunnels and an underground powerhouse, and could require the diversion of over 228 hectares of forest land. Residents of 13 tribal villages fear the project could affect their forests, groundwater, biodiversity and traditional way of life.

While the project is still at an early stage of the environmental-clearance process, villagers question why a region that has long struggled for basic roads, healthcare and other facilities is now seeing rapid activity linked to a massive infrastructure project.

For the people of Alleri, the central question remains: Development for whom—and at what cost?