A directive by the Maharashtra forest department ordering the felling of 32,490 trees for a mega pumped-storage hydroelectric installation in Raigad district has sparked intense political controversy. The clearance paves the way for the ₹13,505-crore Saidongar-I Karjat Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project, which is slated to host a ground-breaking ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 3, 2026.
The development came to light after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut posted a copy of an official communication on social media, criticizing the state administration for authorizing large-scale environmental clearing adjacent to sensitive Western Ghats habitats. According to reporting documented by The Hindu, the administrative communication instructed field teams to expedite tree removal within the designated footprint ahead of the high-profile foundation event.
Scope of Land Diversion and Project Scale
The project, awarded to Gujarat-headquartered private energy firm Torrent Power, is designed to generate 3,000 megawatts (MW) of peaking capacity and grid stabilization. However, setting up the infrastructure requires diverting roughly 233 hectares of land across Karjat.
A breakdown of the forest diversion reveals substantial encroachment on native woodland ecosystems:
The planned facility sits approximately 16 kilometers from the boundary of the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary and roughly 20 kilometers from the revered Bhimashankar Temple, an ecologically sensitive zone known for rich biodiversity and catchment hydrology.
- Reserved Forest Land: 197 hectares
- Private Forest Land: 26 hectares
- Protected Forest Land: 9 hectares
Official Directive and Political Opposition
In the order released to field staff, Karjat East Range Forest Officer Sameer Shinde specified that tree removal must strictly adhere to statutory caps. The directive explicitly noted that clearing operations must not exceed the sanctioned quota of 32,490 trees approved under the forest diversion proposal.
The administrative instruction stated that in view of the Prime Minister's planned visit on November 3, 2026, for the project's commencement, affected trees within the designated activity zones must be removed immediately. Opposition parties and environmental advocates have condemned the decision, arguing that rapid deforestation threatens regional wildlife corridors and destabilizes local water tables in the fragile Western Ghats belt.
| Project Metric | Approved Specification | Environmental & Regional Context |
|---|---|---|
| Total Capital Investment | ₹13,505 Crore | Financed and developed by Torrent Power |
| Power Capacity | 3,000 MW | Pumped-storage hydroelectric grid backup |
| Total Land Diversion | 233 Hectares | 197 ha reserved, 26 ha private, 9 ha protected |
| Approved Tree Felling | 32,490 Trees | Enforced by Karjat East Range Forest Office |
| Distance to Sanctuary | 16 Kilometers | Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary periphery |
| Key Event Date | November 3, 2026 | Scheduled ground-breaking ceremony |
Grid Balancing vs. Conservation Priorities
State planners maintain that large-scale pumped-storage facilities are crucial components for India's evolving clean energy architecture. Because solar and wind generation remain intermittent, pumped-storage systems act as giant water-based batteries—pumping water to higher elevations during periods of surplus power and releasing it through hydro-turbines during peak evening demand hours.
Proponents argue that the ₹13,505-crore Karjat facility will deliver critical energy security and regional grid stabilization for Maharashtra's industrial belt. Nonetheless, environmental groups counter that balancing national energy transition targets must not come at the cost of clear-cutting old-growth natural forests situated right on the doorstep of designated wildlife reserves.
*Regulatory Context: Formal statements and official disclosures corroborated via the authoritative sector ledger.*
*Contextual Intelligence: Verified sector background corroborated in our coverage on Bihar Government Orders Inquiry Into Police Defamation Notice Against RJD MP.*
*Contextual Intelligence: Verified sector background corroborated in our coverage on India Extends SCO Heritage Dialogue Invite to Pakistan Minister.*
