Adani group's power hub plan for 800 acres in Karjat triggers rush for land
Talk of an Adani group power project on about 800 acres in Karjat taluka has sped up land purchases and pushed up prices.
Efforts by the Adani group, counted among the country's big business groups, to set up a "power hub" in Karjat have picked up pace. There is a rush to buy land in Karjat taluka for it. The talk is that the project will come up on about 800 acres. Because of this talk, land prices have risen in the Borivali area. Karjat taluka has also gained considerable importance because of its proximity to Mumbai.
Karjat taluka was earlier known as a taluka of farm houses. For the past two to four years it had appeared to be turning into a taluka of residential complexes. It has now lost its identity as an agricultural taluka. Farm houses and second homes had made it "Destination Karjat". Big construction companies such as Tata, Godrej, Lodha, Kotak and Videocon have also begun putting down roots here.
The taluka, which is linked by suburban rail, is now set to see dams and power projects on a large scale. The Tata group started a power project here 100 years ago. Several companies now appear keen to set up power projects in Karjat. The Tata group's second power project is being built on its surplus land. The Centre and the state government have rolled out the red carpet for Torrent, which aims to generate thousands of megawatts of electricity a day. The name of Adani, a leading industrial group of the country, has now been added to this.
On behalf of Adani, land is being bought in the Kashele area. A contiguous 300 acres belonging to a Pune construction company has already been purchased in that area. Land in Chorivali, Sugave, Dharewadi and Ramachiwadi has also drawn attention. Local farmers have got wind that the Adani group will set up a power project on about 800 acres there. For this reason, local farmers have raised their land prices.
Thousands of acres of land are with construction and business companies. Karjat taluka has no industrial estate of any kind. That is why a line of farm houses, housing societies and now resorts has come up here. Most of the resorts have been built by local farmers themselves, and the tourism business is thriving because of them. But dams and power projects could disrupt life in the taluka.
Big agents have become active to get farmers' land for a large group like Adani. As a result, it is now being said openly that the talk of an Adani group project is true. It is also being said that people from Mumbai's political circles are approaching farmers on behalf of the Adani group.
