Fadnavis defends Karjat pumped-storage project, accuses Opposition of spreading false narrative

A pumped-storage hydroelectric project by Torrent Power has been proposed at Karjat in Raigad district, and it has become a source of controversy. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has now put forward his case in support of the project.

Concern has been voiced over large-scale tree felling and the impact on the environment. Fadnavis accused the Opposition parties of spreading a "false narrative", that is, misleading propaganda, for political gain. He also made it clear that the project will help meet Maharashtra's clean energy needs.

The project will use forest land, and thousands of trees are proposed to be cut. For this reason, environmentalists and Opposition leaders have criticised it. Fadnavis said the project has gone through all the required clearance processes and that the concerns of the residents who will be affected will also be considered.

According to the state government and Torrent Power, the project will be useful especially in the evening and at night, when solar power generation drops. It will help meet the demand for electricity at those times.

In a pumped-storage system, surplus electricity is used to store water in a reservoir at a height. When demand for electricity rises, the water is released downhill and used to generate power.

The project is expected to bring large investment to Maharashtra and create jobs. The company claims it will reduce dependence on coal-based power and also cut carbon emissions.

Fadnavis said the project site is about 16 km from the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary and 20 km from the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga temple. According to information from the company and the Forest Department, parts of the project lie outside the sanctuary boundary and the notified eco-sensitive zone, the area designated as environmentally sensitive.

The project requires about 233 hectares of forest land. According to government sources, Torrent Power has given 253 hectares of private land to the Forest Department for compensatory afforestation.

The company plans to plant about 60,000 trees in the project area. The Forest Department will plant another 30,000 trees, making a planned total of 90,000.

Torrent Power has also said that, before all the necessary permissions were granted, about 18 months of legal process was completed for the project. This included stages such as an environmental assessment, a public hearing, review by an expert committee and an on-site inspection.

Environmental concerns remain. Despite the government's assurances, the proposed tree felling and transfer of forest land have heightened worries about the impact on the local ecosystem and wildlife habitats. Environmentalists and Opposition leaders have asked whether the proposed afforestation can fully make up for the damage to existing forests.

Fadnavis said that if the livelihoods of local people are badly affected by the project, the government will consider rehabilitation measures. He also argued that pumped-storage facilities are important for balancing the supply of renewable energy and meeting the state's growing demand for electricity.