Green energy outweighs tree felling at Sai Dongar, says Bawankule; 300 crore trees to be planted

There is anger across the state over the felling of trees at Sai Dongar in Karjat-Bhimashankar. Local residents are protesting the felling, and are also directly opposing the government's decision on the Torrent project. Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has now spoken on the proposed project.

Bawankule said a decision had been taken to plant hundreds of times more trees. According to him, if such projects slip out of hand, the state will not be able to develop. He said that opposing non-conventional energy projects amounts to opposing the environment. He also said that even if trees are cut and ten times as many are planted, the matter is manageable. Bawankule acknowledged that trees are being cut, but in his view green energy is more important. How many times more trees should be planted remains to be examined, he said. He said, "We are going to plant 300 crore trees."

MNS chief Raj Thackeray is due to visit Karjat. Responding to this, Bawankule said a project will come up where it is viable, and cannot be set up at Azad Maidan. He said it should be understood that the project does not harm the environment. He appealed to Raj Thackeray not to let politics enter the matter. He said he was confident that Raj Thackeray would understand, and that if needed, his officials would explain it to him. Bawankule also said that the state's interest lies in having hydro projects, whoever the company may be, since the question is who supplies electricity to the state at low rates, and hydro plants can be set up only where there is water. He said, "I do not want to go into politics." He also gave his view on the alleged land grabbing at Lavasa. According to him, this project will supply electricity to the state and is meant for a developed Maharashtra.

On drought preparedness, Bawankule said the district collectors' committees have been directed to arrange fodder for animals, get farming done as needed and plan the essentials. The state government has issued an SOP. Green fodder has been fixed at Rs 8 a kg and dry fodder at Rs 12 a kg. Transport will be paid for separately. Tap water schemes are being completed, but where water is available and there are no electricity connections, the District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC) has been asked to provide funds. Some tehsils may be added back to the drought relief list, and these could include tehsils in Raigad and Kolhapur. It has also been decided that elected representatives, government employees and farmers who pay income tax will not get the Rs 5,000.

No royalty will be charged if murum, gravel and silt are used in road works. Silt removed from deepening ponds will be charged at Rs 31 per cubic metre, with transport at Rs 35 per cubic metre. The tribal and social justice departments will also implement drought measures, which will benefit farmers. Fodder is available in Sindhudurg district and will be used in neighbouring districts as well. The fisheries department will also be given funds from the DPDC.

Bawankule also said that the Cabinet and Devendra Fadnavis have spoken today of setting up an MIDC at Raver on 700 acres in Dhule district. Revenue department land has been given to the MIDC for just Rs 9 crore. According to him, a good MIDC will come up at Raver, and the decision was taken to promote industry.