Correct Option
Statement 2 is correct. The Pathrakkadavu Hydroelectric Project (PHEP) was proposed on the Kunthi river, in close proximity to Silent Valley National Park. This proposal faced significant opposition from environmental groups due to concerns regarding the park's rich biodiversity.
Statement 3 is correct. The Kunthi river originates within the rainforests of Silent Valley. It is a significant tributary of the Bharathapuzha River, which is the second-longest river in Kerala.
Incorrect Options
Statement 1 is incorrect. Silent Valley National Park is situated in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats, specifically in the Palakkad district of Kerala. The Nallamalai range is part of the Eastern Ghats, located primarily in Andhra Pradesh.
Option (a) is incorrect because it includes Statement 1, which is factually incorrect.
Option (b) is incorrect because it states only Statement 2 is correct, thereby omitting Statement 3, which is also correct.
Option (d) is incorrect because it includes Statement 1, which is factually incorrect.