Satej Patil attacks Fadnavis over tree felling for Bhimashankar project, raises El Nino

Congress leader Satej Patil has sharply criticised the state government over the Karjat-Bhimashankar project. "On one hand you say there is the effect of El Nino, you say rainfall is low. On the other hand you throw all environmental rules to the wind and bring such projects. Unfortunately, projects that destroy nature have started coming to Maharashtra," he said.

A pumped hydro energy storage project is proposed in the Bhimashankar area of Pune district. It is alleged that lakhs of trees are being cut for it. Anger has spread across the state after hundreds of large trees in the Bhimashankar forest area were felled over the past four to five days. Locals allege that three lakh trees are being cut for the project.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has responded to the allegations. He says that both the Bhimashankar project and the Karjat pumped storage project are fully environment-friendly. He criticised the Opposition for spreading a fake narrative about the projects, and said creating a false narrative is an anti-Maharashtra act. Fadnavis also said that no one's livelihood will be affected by the project, and that if such a situation arises, the state government will rehabilitate those concerned properly.

Patil took aim at Fadnavis on this very point. He said the Congress is not opposed to projects, but projects should come up where nature will not be harmed. He drew attention to the discussion under way over the figures that have emerged about data centres and over the water such projects use. He therefore advised that the state should attract industries and businesses that provide jobs without harming nature.

Forest clearing is under way in the Karjat-Bhimashankar forest area for the proposed pumped hydro energy storage project of Torrent Power of Gujarat. Locals and Opposition parties in the state have strongly opposed the tree felling. Locals fear that about three lakh trees in the forest will be cut. The Mahayuti government is also being accused of partisanship over the issue.

On October 25, locals met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray and gave him all the details. Thackeray has since said that he will tour the Karjat-Bhimashankar area, inspect the project and hold a rally there.

The project is to be set up in the Sai Dongar area at Bhimashankar. It is estimated to cost about Rs 13,500 crore and to have a capacity of 3,000 MW. Resentment is growing among locals in the Bhimashankar area, as the project is alleged to be going ahead while ignoring landowners' concerns and demands for protecting the environment.

Environmentalists say that felling more than three lakh trees could seriously affect the area's biodiversity. They have expressed concern that the natural habitat of birds and wildlife could be destroyed. They also say soil conservation on the hill slopes, natural water flow, traditional farming and tourism could be affected.