Wadettiwar alleges forest being cleared at Bhimashankar for Gujarat entrepreneurs' power project

Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday targeted the state government. He alleged that forests are being cleared for a power project in the Bhimashankar area of Raigad district, and that the benefit is being given to entrepreneurs from Gujarat. According to him, an alternative barren land could have been considered for the project.

Wadettiwar told reporters that such destruction of forest land would damage biodiversity and upset the ecological balance. He claimed the area is home to several wildlife species, including the Indian giant squirrel, locally called "Shekaru". He also said the region is the source of several rivers.

The government plans to plant 90,000 trees as compensation. Wadettiwar, who is the leader of the Congress legislature party, questioned this. He asked whether new plantation could immediately replace an old forest and its biodiversity. He said the Congress would start an agitation against the proposed felling of trees.

Meanwhile, Torrent Power has defended its proposed 3,000 MW pumped storage project amid environmental concerns. The company says the project is about 16 km from the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary and lies outside the sanctuary and its eco-sensitive zone.

Wadettiwar also spoke on the death of a farmer in Nanded. He said recovery agents of a microfinance company were responsible for the incident, but the police initially tried to hush up the matter. The farmer, Chandrakant Shinde (40), had allegedly borrowed Rs 10,000 from a private finance company. He was found hanging inside the company's office on Saturday. The police then detained three people on charges of murder, kidnapping and wrongful confinement.

The Congress's "Desh Bachao, Vote Bachao" rally is to be held at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi in November. Wadettiwar said the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee has appointed delegates for the rally, and the party is holding meetings across the state to build public support. Accusing the BJP of "vote chori" (vote theft), he said the agitation is important for protecting voters' rights. He alleged that attempts are being made in Delhi to oppose the rally in the name of traders.

Wadettiwar said the Congress is presenting evidence in support of its stand on voters' rights. He also criticised the expenditure on preparations for the Maharashtra legislature's winter session in Nagpur. He alleged that huge sums are being spent on repainting old walls, new curtains and other decorative work.

A controversy has arisen over Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Wadettiwar said BJP leaders should reflect on their own past statements before criticising the opposition. He asked whether BJP leaders remember the remarks their party's leaders made about former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and about Sonia Gandhi.