Over 32,000 trees being felled in Karjat for pumped storage project; villagers protest

More than 32,000 trees are to be felled for a pumped storage hydropower project in Karjat taluka of Raigad district. The felling has reportedly already begun, and its impact on local wildlife has started to show. A wildlife enthusiast who visited the felling site found a small Indian civet and a Russell's viper dead there.

Naturalists have begun documenting the damage to biodiversity in the area and the effect on the species that live there. They are sharing videos on social media that show the scale of the felling. They fear that the loss of tree cover and natural habitat has had a major impact on local biodiversity, including birds, reptiles and other wildlife. Many species are likely to be displaced from the area. Villagers in Karjat observed a bandh on Monday to protest the felling, and it drew a strong response.

On the disputed project, 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 spreads across the villages of Pali, Kotal Khalati, Saidongar and Dhak in Karjat. According to the documents, 233 hectares of forest land will have to be diverted for it. This includes 197.0272 hectares of reserved forest, 26.066 hectares of private forest and 9.9068 hectares of protected forest.

Naturalist and wildlife photographer Mahesh Yadav expressed strong anger. "It is shocking and heartbreaking to see such large-scale destruction of nature in Karjat for a power generation project," he said. "Thousands of trees have been felled and the natural habitat of many wild animals has been destroyed. We have photographs showing that wildlife, including the Indian civet and Russell's viper, has been killed by this reckless felling."

Yadav added, "If villagers cut even a single tree, the Forest Department is quick to take strict legal action. But its complete silence and indifference to the mass destruction of trees and wildlife happening before its own eyes is unacceptable. Were panchnamas drawn up for these dead animals? Who is responsible? The officials must answer why wildlife is being ignored and sacrificed for commercial projects."

Nature enthusiast Sagar Borade also questioned the Forest Department. "Wild animals dying in heaps of felled timber is worrying, and the Forest Department should respond to it urgently," he said. "If so many lives may have been lost in just a small part of the felling area, what will happen once 30,000 trees have been cut? Countless birds and tree-dwelling animals have been left homeless overnight. Their habitat, food and safety have been taken away."

Borade called it an environmental emergency. "The forest administration should stop turning a blind eye, answer for this grave negligence, and explain what steps it will take for the displaced wildlife before the entire area is laid bare," he said.