India, Nov. 13 -- From pump storage projects in Maharashtra to rail and tunnel projects in Karnataka and Kerala, large-scale deforestation is threatening the fragile Western Ghats. Compensatory plantations cannot replace ancient forests, their biodiversity or their critical role in sustaining the subcontinent's water cycle.

Torrent Power, through Torrent PSH 3 Private Limited, is developing 3000 MW Stream Open Loop Pump Storage Project over 377 ha land in Maharashtra's Karjat taluk, Raigad district. The project site includes 233 ha forest lands, with pristine forest covers of Western Ghats. The enumeration of the tree cover shows that there are 33 thousand trees on forest lands, which are proposed to be sacrificed for the sake of the pro...