India, Oct. 26 -- Amid protests by local residents, environmental groups and opposition leaders against the state forest department's permission to fell over 32,000 trees for the Gujarat-based Torrent Power's Rs.13,500-crore, 3,000-MW hydroelectric project in Karjat, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday accused opposition leaders of pushing a "fake narrative" as part of an "anti-Maharashtra campaign".

The CM said that due diligence had been done and the project had received clearances in accordance with the prescribed rules and regulations. Acknowledging that local residents might have grievances, he said their concerns would be taken into consideration but defended the pumped storage hydropower project as a source of clean energy ...