Mumbai, Oct. 28 -- Maharashtra Minister for Information Technology and AI Ashish Shelar has assured that all industrial projects coming up in the state will follow environment-friendly practices. He was responding to criticism over tree-felling linked to Torrent Power's Saidongar-1 Pumped Storage Project in Raigad.
Shelar said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray lacked the moral authority to raise environmental concerns. He alleged that the previous Sena (UBT)-led government had failed to act against polluting companies in Mumbai, despite National Green Tribunal orders concerning firms in the Mankhurd-Govandi areas that had faced substantial financial penalties and pollution warnings.
Shelar said he was not fully aware of the project's details but maintained that any industry established in Maharashtra would have to comply with environmental regulations. The project, located in Karjat tehsil of Raigad, is a 3,000 MW hydro-energy initiative intended to support grid reliability and energy security in Maharashtra and other regions. It involves an investment of Rs. 135.05 bn.
Environmental activists and Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, have opposed what they described as extensive tree-felling for the project. Thackeray alleged that thousands of trees were being cut and questioned the forest department's permissions, while accusing authorities of placing private interests above environmental concerns and local opposition.
Kailash More, leader of the Karjat Paryavaran Bachao Samiti, said the organisation would protest if the tree-felling continued. An official said the Union Environment Ministry had issued final approval on October 6 for diverting 233 hectares of forest land and cutting 48,000 trees. Maharashtra Minister of State for Power Meghna Bordikar said the project had received clearance after meeting the conditions imposed by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry. She accused Thackeray of creating confusion through incomplete information and said the project was important for meeting the state's growing electricity demand.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.