Felling of 32,490 trees begins in Karjat for 3,000 MW pumped storage project; activists, leaders object

The axe has fallen on Karjat's green belt. A total of 32,490 trees are to be felled there for a 3,000 MW pumped storage hydro project, and the felling has begun. Environmental activists are worried about the impact on the area's rich biodiversity. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has also attacked the government over the loss of trees on such a scale.

The Range Forest Officer, Karjat East, issued a letter on October 14 directing that 32,490 trees be felled immediately for the proposed Saidongar I Karjat off-stream open loop pumped storage project. The project spans the villages of Pali, Kotal Khalati, Saidongar and Dhak in Karjat taluka.

According to government documents, the project requires 233 hectares of forest land. This includes 197.0272 hectares of reserved forest, 26.066 hectares of private forest and 9.9068 hectares of protected forest. Forest department officials say the project has received both Central and state approvals.

The Karjat Taluka Paryavaran Bachao Sangharsh Samiti is opposing the project. Kailash More, a lawyer associated with the samiti, said: "Felling of 32,490 trees has begun for the proposed Saidongar I Karjat pumped storage project in this biodiversity-rich area. At a time when Maharashtra is battling drought and the threat of climate change is growing, clearing such a large stretch of forest will only deepen the environmental crisis. Countless birds, wild animals and reptiles will lose their homes. Do the authorities care at all about the terrible consequences of this destruction?"

Environmental activists fear that fewer trees could affect wildlife habitats, upset the ecological balance and further fragment the forest.

Aaditya Thackeray wrote on X: "Thousands of trees are being felled with impunity in Karjat taluka for the hydroelectric project of the Gujarat company 'Torrent Power'. The rich natural wealth of the 'Saidongar' area is being wiped out, and the protests of local people and environmental activists are being trampled underfoot. Whose backing is this massacre running on?"

NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar said in a long post on X that this is not merely tree felling but the end of an entire ecosystem, and that humans will have to bear the serious consequences later. He wrote: "This dense forest is the true home of our state animal, the barking deer, and many other animals. Precious medicinal plants, rare insects and the distinctive biodiversity of this stretch of the Sahyadri are on the way to being lost forever because of this senseless massacre. Not only that, the powerful blasts for tunnelling through the mountains for this project will weaken entire sections of the hills, and there is a risk of a disaster like Malin or Irshalwadi being repeated. If the forest wealth is destroyed in a naturally beautiful area like Karjat, the ecological balance will be upset and the very existence of local tribal communities will be at stake."

Voices have also been raised from Bollywood on the issue. Actress Richa Chadha posted a video of Mumbai's AQI on X and wrote: "Citizens of Mumbai, what are you afraid of? There is actually sewage in the drinking water and poison in the air. Poison kills; what could be worse than death? Why does @mybmc, the richest civic body in the world, think it will get away with doing this to you?"

Chadha went on to write: "There are practically three chief ministers, so what is the plan for the air? The roads were always bad, now the air and water are dirty too. Why do you pay so much tax only to die of slow poison? Mumbai pays so much tax to the Centre, and what does it get in return? 7,500 more trees are to be cut. Why should only a handful of environmental activists keep speaking up for you? Are you cowards? Why have you handed the entire contract for courage to the young? Ask questions, raise your voice! You do not deserve this!"