Actor Sayaji Shinde asks if Sahyadri is to be turned into a desert over Karjat tree felling

Trees are being felled in Karjat tehsil of Raigad district for Torrent Power. The Opposition has turned aggressive over the issue. Along with political leaders, some environmentalists have also expressed their displeasure and targeted the government.

Trees are being cut in large numbers in Karjat and the Bhimashankar sanctuary. Actor and environmentalist Sayaji Shinde has also voiced his anger over the matter. He asked whether the Sahyadri is to be turned into a desert. The tree felling in Karjat is drawing criticism from across the state. Shinde, who works for the environment through Sahyadri Devrai, has responded to it.

Sayaji Shinde said, "Five per cent of the forest land in India is in our Sahyadri. Many rivers flow from there. Our Maharashtra lives off it. The rain comes because of those trees and mountains. Projects are coming up on it, and the first of them is the Torrent project. 600 acres of land is being given. Its trees are being cut."

He said, "I appeal to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis: an investment of Rs 71 crore and some benefit of Rs 30,000 crore, the electricity that will be generated, who is it for? For those trees? The animals there, the peacocks, the water, the 50 kinds of fish there, I have to stand with them. After that, I have to stand with human beings. Why do such projects at the cost of all this, by destroying the environment? In reality we have now come down to 5 per cent. Does the chief minister want to turn the Sahyadri of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, of which we speak, into a desert by building 25 projects on it? Does everything have to be finished off?"

Shinde further said, "The chief minister and our elected leaders, everyone, should save the environment first and then talk about other things. I appeal to everyone to stand with the animals, birds, living creatures and trees here. Change the law. Do not cheat nature, we are only cheating ourselves."

He said, "I appeal to the chief minister and the forest minister to change the rules and amend the law. Do not cut the trees. Do the projects you have to do. I appeal to all the people of Maharashtra to rise up. We must not let the Sahyadri become a desert before our eyes."