Forest department denies illegal tree felling inside Bhimashankar sanctuary after Rohit Pawar's charge

Pune, October 24, 2026: The forest department has called reports of illegal tree felling inside the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary false. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar had alleged that thousands of trees were being cut for a pumped-storage hydroelectric project in the Sandongar forest area adjoining the sanctuary. The department issued its clarification after that.

Pune's Conservator of Forests, Ashish Thakre, issued a press release. He said that for the past two to three days, reports had been circulating on social media and elsewhere that trees were being illegally felled inside the sanctuary for a company's project. This report is not correct, he said.

The forest department said clearly, "No such illegal tree felling is taking place inside the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary." It appealed to citizens to take this clarification into account and cooperate with the administration.

The statement comes after Pawar raised the matter of the Sandongar forest area in Karjat taluka of Raigad district, which adjoins the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. He alleged that more than 32,000 trees were being cut on over 233 hectares of forest land there.

In his social media post, Pawar said trees were being felled on a large scale for the pumped-storage hydroelectric project. He said this could harm wildlife habitat, biodiversity and the environment.

According to him, many kinds of animals live in this forest. They include the barking deer (kakad), Maharashtra's state animal, leopards, wild boar, otters and many species of birds. He also voiced concern that felling could destroy birds' nests, eggs and chicks, and endanger the local ecology, including medicinal plants.

Pawar also questioned the blasting involved in tunnel construction. He said it could weaken parts of the hills. Citing the Malin and Irshalwadi disasters, he said development in ecologically sensitive areas carries its own risks. Pawar made these remarks in his post and they have not been independently confirmed.

Pawar said he is not against the hydroelectric project or the company concerned. His objection is to the project's location, which he described as environmentally sensitive. He demanded that the project be moved to a site where environmental damage can be avoided.

He asked the government to reconsider the location. He also appealed to citizens, environmental organisations and the media to raise the issue of the impact on forests and local people. Pawar claims the Prime Minister is to inaugurate the project on November 3. He asked whether development should come at the cost of saving forests.

The forest department's statement specifically denies reports of illegal tree felling inside the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. Pawar's allegations, on the other hand, concern the Sandongar forest area adjoining the sanctuary.