This project seeks to construct an irrigation project that could submerge around 899 ha of pristine forests in the Western Ghats in the Sawantwadi-Dodamarg wildlife corridor. While the project proponent has cited 18 villages that would benefit from said project, the site happens to be in the highly important wildlife corridor connecting Radhanagiri Sanctuary in Kolhapur with Bhimgad/Anshi Dandeli. A small, quaint village with 35 households, it is nestled in dense forests at the crest of the Western Ghats in the Sawantwadi range.

Vanashakti under RTI revealed that none of those have expressed a water shortage or pending irrigation needs. The real reason was uncovered soon, wherein it was revealed that open-cast mining was proposed in the nearby village and that the water from the dam was to be diverted to the mining project. Project work had been initiated without environmental clearances, despite the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment on lands with Schedule 1 category wildlife. After petitioning relevant departments. Officials visited the area. Meetings and representations with the State Forest Department, Principle Secretary, did not yield any results. After the government refused to cancel the project, Vanashakti moved the High Court.