Maharashtra Forest Minister Addresses Karjat Power Project Concerns
Maharashtra's Forest Minister reviews the controversial 3,000-MW power project amid environmental concerns.
The 3,000-MW Saidongar-I project near Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary faces opposition over tree felling.
Opposition leaders claim 32,000 trees will be cut down, raising biodiversity and livelihood concerns.
Government officials promise tree preservation and additional planting to mitigate environmental impact.
On November 1, 2026, Maharashtra's Forest Minister Ganesh Naik conducted a review of the Saidongar-I pumped storage project, a significant 3,000-MW initiative by Torrent Power located near the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in Karjat, Raigad district. Naik clarified that the project's approval was granted prior to his tenure in the Forest Department, which has now become a focal point of contention among various political factions.
The project has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, including Aditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, who argue that the development will result in the destruction of 32,000 trees in the Karjat-Bhimashankar area. Environmental advocates have echoed these concerns, emphasizing the potential loss of biodiversity and adverse effects on local communities dependent on the forest ecosystem.
In response to the growing opposition, Minister Naik stated that the government is actively assessing the situation to ensure the preservation of as many trees as feasible at the project site. He assured that additional trees would be planted in other areas to counterbalance the environmental impact, emphasizing the government's commitment to preventing ecological degradation.
Supporters of the project, including Minister of State for Power Meghana Bordikar and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, have defended the initiative, asserting that it will deliver clean energy to Maharashtra. Fadnavis remarked that any environmental harm would be temporary compared to the long-term benefits of sustainable energy production. He also announced plans to plant 90,000 trees and allocate an area twice the size of the project site to the Forest Department for conservation efforts.
Looking ahead, the government is expected to continue its evaluation of the project, balancing the need for energy development with environmental preservation. Stakeholders are keenly watching how the situation unfolds, particularly as public sentiment remains divided over the project's implications for the region's ecology and local livelihoods.
