🐅 Environment
Tree felling for a power project near the Western Ghats sparks a row in Maharashtra
In 60 seconds: Cutting of trees for a 3,000 MW pumped storage project by Torrent Power at Karjat in Raigad, near the Western Ghats, has sparked a political row in Maharashtra. About 1,800 of 32,490 trees have been cut. Opposition leaders and activists oppose it; Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says it has all clearances. The government says 90,000 saplings will be planted.
Why it matters
Pumped storage helps store clean power for peak hours, but the Western Ghats are among India's richest forests. The row asks how to balance both.
Explain it simply
Think of two water tanks on a hill: pump water up when power is cheap, let it flow down through a turbine when everyone wants power. That is a pumped storage plant, a giant battery.
The 3-minute read
What happened
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray visited Karjat and said, 'We are not opposed to development. However, we want one that is sustainable.' Actor and environmentalist Sayaji Shinde criticised cutting native trees on the promise of planting saplings elsewhere.
Background
Critics allege the state is favouring the company because it is based in Gujarat. The BJP said 'jobless politicians are sabotaging the state's development'.
How it works
Torrent Power says the project is not inside the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, needs 52 times less land than a conventional hydro project of similar size, and will supply 6,570 million units a year. It says it went through public hearings and expert and forest committee appraisals.
What's next
Opposition parties plan to keep up the pressure. Watch whether courts or the green tribunal are approached, and how the replanting promise is monitored.
What it means for you
Planted saplings take decades to match old trees. When a project promises replanting, it is fair to ask where, how many survive, and who checks.
Key numbers
- 3,000 MW: Capacity of the pumped storage project
- 32,490: Trees marked for cutting
- ~1,800: Trees already cut
- 90,000: Saplings promised
Both sides
- State government and company: The project has all clearances, needs little land and will meet peak power needs.
- Opposition and activists: Cutting native trees in an ecologically sensitive zone is not sustainable development.
Key terms explained
- Pumped storage
- A way of storing electricity by pumping water uphill and releasing it later to make power.
- Western Ghats
- A forested mountain range along India's west coast, rich in plants and animals.
The story so far
- 1980: Forest (Conservation) Act requires Centre's approval to divert forest land. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 says forest land cannot be used for other purposes without the Centre's approval, usually with compensatory tree planting elsewhere.
- 2012: Western Ghats named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2012 UNESCO listed parts of the Western Ghats as a World Heritage Site for their rich plant and animal life.
- Today: Row over trees cut at Karjat project
Exam notes (UPSC, SSC, Banking, PSC)
- Pumped storage hydropower stores energy by pumping water to a higher reservoir and releasing it through turbines when needed.
- The Western Ghats are one of the world's biodiversity hotspots and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2012).
- Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra is known for the Indian giant squirrel (shekru), the state animal.
- Compensatory afforestation funds are managed under the CAMPA Act, 2016.
Likely exam question: What is pumped storage hydropower? Discuss its role in India's renewable energy plans and its environmental costs.