Raj Thackeray inspects Sai hill in Karjat, to address rally against Torrent Power hydro project

MNS president Raj Thackeray has taken the field against the proposed hydropower project at Karjat in Raigad, adopting an aggressive stand. He will address a large rally in Karjat this evening and has appealed to environmentalists to attend. In his own style, he has warned: "See how this government makes this project binding."

Thackeray visited Karjat on Wednesday and inspected Sai hill, part of the Sahyadri range. Villagers from the area had met him a few days ago and requested him to come. Honouring that request, he made the inspection visit, and he is to address a rally there in the evening.

During the morning session of the visit, Thackeray held discussions with local residents and learnt of their feelings. He appealed to environmentalists to come to the evening rally. He assured the locals: "Come to the rally in the evening; I will see how they make this project binding."

Photographs and videos of trees being felled in the Karjat-Bhimashankar area had gone viral on social media, triggering anger among citizens and environmentalists. Public outrage followed after the Centre and the state government ordered the felling of centuries-old trees for a private company. Objectors have been requesting that, with the shadow of drought over the state, such projects should not be carried out at the cost of the environment.

The project is a proposed pumped storage hydropower project of Torrent Power, a company from Gujarat. It is to be set up in the Sai hill area. With an estimated cost of Rs 13,500 crore and a capacity of 3,000 MW, the project would require more than three lakh trees to be cut. Fears have been expressed that it could have serious environmental consequences and destroy the natural habitat of birds and wildlife.

Soil conservation on the hill slopes, natural water flow, traditional farming and tourism may also be affected. Environmentalists have asked why the natural resources of Karjat-Bhimashankar are being destroyed in the name of development.

Attention is now on how Thackeray takes on the government in his trademark style. Amit Thackeray is also with him. His cousin and MLA Aaditya Thackeray visited the site on Monday and had warned that the state government would have to reckon with them if it harmed the environment.

Some local MLAs of the Mahayuti alliance have also begun to voice opposition to the project, along with the Thackeray cousins. It will be of interest to see what decision the government takes.