The Torrent Power Raigad project has triggered a political and environmental dispute after authorities approved the diversion of 233 hectares of forest land and the felling of 48,000 trees for a proposed 3,000 MW pumped-storage facility in Karjat tehsil.
Maharashtra Information Technology and AI Minister Ashish Shelar on Sunday said all industrial projects coming up in the state would follow environment-friendly practices, while acknowledging that he was not fully aware of the details of the Torrent Power project. His comments came after criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray over the scale of tree felling and the permissions granted by the Forest Department.
“I am not fully aware of the details of the Torrent project but I can certainly assure you that any industry coming here will follow environment-friendly practices,” Shelar told reporters, according to PTI.
The Saidongar-1 Pumped Storage Project is planned in Raigad’s Karjat area. The project is expected to involve an investment of Rs 13,505 crore and contribute to grid reliability and energy security in Maharashtra and other regions. According to an official cited in the report, the Union Environment Ministry granted final approval on October 6 for the diversion of forest land and the felling of trees.
Thackeray alleged on Saturday that thousands of trees were being indiscriminately felled for the project. He questioned the permissions issued by the Forest Department and accused the authorities of placing private companies’ interests ahead of environmental concerns and objections raised by local residents.
Environmental activists and opposition parties, including the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, have opposed the project. Kailash More, leader of the Karjat Paryavaran Bachao Samiti, said the organisation would stage a protest if the tree felling was not stopped.
Shelar also criticised Thackeray’s record as a former state environment minister. He alleged that the previous Shiv Sena (UBT)-led government had failed to act against polluting companies in Mumbai, including firms in the Mankhurd-Govandi area that had faced action from the National Green Tribunal. These remarks were part of Shelar’s response to the criticism and were reported by PTI.
Maharashtra Minister of State for Power Meghna Bordikar separately defended the project’s clearances. She accused Thackeray of creating confusion by opposing the development on the basis of incomplete information and said the Union Power Ministry had approved the project in view of the state’s growing electricity demand. She added that the project received clearance after complying with conditions laid down by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry.
The dispute places the project at the intersection of two public priorities: expanding electricity-storage capacity and protecting forest land. Pumped-storage projects use reservoirs and elevation differences to store electricity and release it when required, but their construction can involve substantial land diversion and ecological impact. In this case, the officially cited tree-felling figure has become the central point of opposition.
The government’s stated position is that the project has secured the necessary approvals and will follow environmental norms. Opposition parties and local environmental groups are seeking a halt to tree felling and questioning whether the clearances adequately address the concerns of residents and environmental stakeholders. The supplied report does not indicate any announced suspension of the project or tree-felling activity.
