Fadnavis defends Karjat pumped storage project, says it will prevent far greater harm over 100 years

A hydroelectric energy storage project by Gujarat's Torrent Power is proposed at Saydongar in Karjat taluka of Raigad district. The project has stirred a political row. Environmentalists had opposed it from the start, and the Opposition has now turned aggressive against the government. Trees are being felled in the Saydongar area for the project, which has drawn criticism. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has now responded.

Mr Fadnavis said the opposition to the project was being voiced without any study. He said the damage being caused here was temporary, but it would prevent damage thousands of times greater in the future.

"This project is entirely eco-friendly," Mr Fadnavis said. "We generate two kinds of energy, solar and wind. But they are not available 24 hours a day. So it affects the grid. Pumped storage is used to get clean energy round the clock. This project will generate 3,000 MW of power. If this much power were to be produced from coal, 28 crore trees would be needed."

The Chief Minister said 90,000 trees would be planted for the project. He also said the Forest Department would be given twice as much land as is being allotted for the project.

He further said: "A pumped storage facility has a life of 80 years, and this technology will be made entirely in India. This will avert the damage of the next 100 years. Whatever temporary damage is being caused now, we will be avoiding damage many thousands of times greater."

Speaking about the Opposition, Mr Fadnavis said: "The allegations being made about this project are being made without study. The Opposition has taken a stand of opposing an environmental project. If it is studied properly, it will become clear how political the opposition is. If some people have objections, we will consider them. If there is better technology than this, they should tell us."

Some people are demanding that the Karjat project be shifted to Marathwada or Vidarbha. Mr Fadnavis responded to this as well. He said: "Pumped storage cannot be built anywhere. A few select sites have been identified for it. Pumped storage projects are green projects, so their life cycle is eco-friendly. The Karjat site is suitable for this."

The Chief Minister recalled that similar opposition had been raised to the felling of trees at Aarey. He said the Supreme Court eventually brought out the facts of the matter and rebuked those who had opposed it.