Maharashtra's 3,000 MW clean power project faces stir over felling of 32,000+ trees

As Maharashtra pushes ahead with its clean energy ambitions, a proposed 3,000 MW pumped-storage hydropower project in Karjat taluka of Raigad district has brought villagers, environmental activists and political leaders into a growing dispute over development and environmental protection.At the centre of the controversy is the Saidongar-I project, being developed by Torrent Power at an estimated cost of Rs 13,500 crore. The project has come under scrutiny over the proposed felling of 32,490 trees and the diversion of around 233 hectares of forest land, raising concerns about its impact on forest ecology, local livelihoods and the future of villages in the project area.For residents of Saidongar and other affected villages, the debate goes beyond the number of trees marked for felling. They fear losing access to forests, grazing land and natural resources that their families have depended on for generations. Some residents have also alleged that the company did not consult the entire community before moving ahead with the project.Bhalchandra Khandagle, a resident of Saidongar village, said villagers raised concerns during a gram sabha meeting but faced opposition from some people."When we raised this issue in the gram sabha, some people opposed it. However, due to pressure from local politicians, we could not raise our voices at the time. This project could eventually force us to leave our homes," Khandagle said.His concerns reflect the uncertainty among residents who fear that the project could affect not only their surroundings but also their ability to continue living in their villages.VILLAGERS ALLEGE INADEQUATE CONSULTATIONSambhaji Kumbhar, another resident of the project-affected area, alleged that the company began engaging with villagers last year but did not take the entire community into confidence before advancing the project."The company came to the village last year. This time, it started laying the groundwork for the project by taking some local influential people into confidence. But all the villagers were not consulted," Kumbhar alleged.He further claimed that some villagers received Diwali gifts from the company last year, while cash packets were allegedly delivered to the homes of some residents. These allegations could not be independently verified.For Kumbhar, the proposed loss of forest land threatens a way of life that his family has followed for generations. He said his family had traditionally depended on the surrounding forest for grazing cattle and obtaining fodder."My grandfather brought our cattle to this forest, then my father did the same, and now I do it. But if the forest is affected, where will our cows and buffaloes find fodder? I live in the very village where the pumping station is proposed, yet I feel our concerns have not been considered," he said.His account highlights the concerns of residents whose livelihoods depend on continued access to the forest. They fear that changes to the landscape could affect cattle grazing and the availability of natural resources, even as the state argues that the project will strengthen Maharashtra's electricity infrastructure.32,490 TREES AND THE ECOLOGICAL CONCERNSThe proposed felling of 32,490 trees has emerged as one of the main points of contention. According to reports citing Forest Department documents, permission for the tree felling was granted on October 14. The affected locations include Saidongar and other villages in the Karjat region.The project is expected to require the diversion of around 233 hectares of forest land, in addition to non-forest land. Environmental activists have questioned the potential consequences of the proposed changes to the landscape, including their impact on wildlife, biodiversity, bird nesting sites and natural habitats.Bhagy Lata, a Karjat resident and environmental activist, said environmentalists had been gathering at the project site for the past ten days to oppose the proposed tree felling and draw attention to the ecological concerns.Environmentalists argue that the impact of clearing an established forest cannot be measured solely by counting the trees that would be felled. They say forests support interconnected ecosystems, provide habitats for wildlife, regulate water flows and sustain communities that depend on natural resources.They have also questioned whether planting new trees can adequately compensate for the loss of an established forest ecosystem.The concerns have added to wider questions about the cumulative environmental impact of multiple pumped-storage projects proposed across Maharashtra. For opponents of the Saidongar-I project, the central issue is whether the long-term benefits of energy storage justify the ecological costs and whether the government has adequately considered alternatives.WHAT IS SAIDONGAR-I PROJECT?The Saidongar-I project is a proposed 3,000 MW pumped-storage electricity facility in Karjat taluka of Raigad district. Torrent Power is developing the project, which has an estimated cost of around Rs 13,500 crore.Pumped-storage technology uses two reservoirs at different elevations to store energy and generate electricity when demand rises. During periods of surplus electricity, the system pumps water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir. When electricity demand increases, particularly during evening and night-time peak hours, the water flows back to the lower reservoir through turbines, generating electricity.The technology can support the integration of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, whose generation fluctuates with weather conditions and the time of day. Energy-storage facilities can help balance these fluctuations by storing surplus electricity and supplying power when generation falls short of demand.Maharashtra's government has defended the project as part of its efforts to strengthen energy storage and maintain a stable electricity supply as the state's dependence on renewable energy increases.However, the project's proposed land requirements and tree felling have prompted opposition from residents and environmental activists, who question the location and the potential consequences for the surrounding forest.AADITYA THACKERAY QUESTIONS ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCESThe controversy has drawn political attention, with opposition leaders visiting the project site and meeting villagers and environmental activists.Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray visited the area on October 26. He questioned the government's claim that the project was environmentally friendly and demanded accountability over the clearance granted for the proposed tree felling."One cannot have a clean project by clearing jungles," Thackeray said.He also questioned why the Sahyadri mountains had been chosen for a project being developed by Gujarat-based Torrent Power. He sought details of the project's environmental impact assessment and asked whether the authorities had considered an alternative location.Thackeray's visit brought renewed political attention to the concerns raised by villagers and environmentalists. The questions surrounding the project now include not only its energy-storage capacity but also the assessment of its environmental impact and the process through which the authorities approved it.On October 28, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray also visited the project area amid growing opposition.The visits by the two leaders have added a political dimension to the dispute, which centres on the proposed tree felling, the project's environmental implications and allegations that affected residents did not receive adequate opportunities to raise their concerns.MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT DEFENDS THE PROJECTChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has defended the Saidongar-I project, arguing that Maharashtra needs energy-storage infrastructure to ensure a stable electricity supply as renewable energy becomes a larger part of its power mix.Fadnavis has described the opposition as politically motivated and alleged that a misleading narrative is being created around the project. He has maintained that the environmental damage associated with construction must be assessed against the long-term benefits of clean energy.The Chief Minister said the project would provide 3,000 MW of power and reduce dependence on coal-based electricity during periods of peak demand. He has also argued that generating an equivalent amount of electricity through coal would have substantially greater environmental consequences.To address concerns over tree loss, Fadnavis announced plans to plant 90,000 trees. Under the plan, 30,000 trees would be planted on land provided to the Forest Department, while another 60,000 would be planted in the project area.Fadnavis has also said the government is willing to hear legitimate concerns raised by local residents and consider better environmental technologies wherever available.The government's position is that the project would support the state's energy requirements while helping accommodate greater renewable energy generation. However, its proposed tree-plantation plan has not removed the concerns raised by environmentalists over the loss of an established forest ecosystem.TORRENT POWER CITES STATUTORY APPROVAL PROCESSTorrent Power has maintained that the project is located around 16 kilometres from the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary and that all its components fall outside the sanctuary's boundary and its notified eco-sensitive zone.The company has said the project underwent a statutory approval process involving environmental studies, public hearings, expert appraisal and site inspections.Its position places the project within the framework of the required approval process, while opponents continue to question its environmental consequences and the adequacy of consultation with affected villagers.The concerns raised by residents and activists centre on the possible effects of tree felling and forest diversion on wildlife, biodiversity, grazing land and the natural resources that sustain nearby communities. The disagreement also highlights the challenge of balancing energy infrastructure requirements with environmental protection and the interests of people living in project-affected areas.DEVELOPMENT VERSUS LIVELIHOODSThe Saidongar-I controversy has exposed a broader conflict between Maharashtra's clean energy ambitions and the concerns of communities living in areas identified for large infrastructure projects.Pumped-storage facilities can help manage fluctuations in renewable electricity generation and meet peak demand. The state government has cited these benefits to justify the project, while Torrent Power has pointed to the statutory approval process it says the project underwent.But for villagers in the affected area, the immediate questions concern their homes, cattle, access to forest resources and the possibility of displacement.Khandagle fears the project could eventually force residents to leave their homes. Kumbhar worries about where his cattle will find fodder if the surrounding forest is affected. Environmental activists, meanwhile, have raised concerns about wildlife habitats, biodiversity and whether new plantations can compensate for the loss of an established forest.With Aaditya Thackeray and Raj Thackeray visiting the project area and the government defending its energy-storage benefits, the dispute has moved beyond a debate over the number of trees to be felled.The questions that remain at the heart of the controversy are whether the concerns of all affected villagers have been adequately considered, how the project's environmental safeguards will be monitored and whether alternatives could reduce the ecological impact.For the residents of Saidongar, the outcome could determine not only the future of the surrounding forest but also the continuity of livelihoods and traditions that have sustained their families for generations.- Ends