A proposed 3,000MW pumped storage project in Karjat has come under renewed political and local opposition after tree felling began at the site, with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray urging residents, particularly young people, to lead protests against the project.
Thackeray visited the affected area and later addressed residents in Karjat, where he said he would support those opposing development that could damage the Sahyadri region’s natural environment. The project is expected to require the felling of 32,490 trees, according to the report, while residents and political leaders have also raised concerns about land loss and the possible displacement of villagers.
“The people and youngsters from Karjat should come together and lead the protest against the project and I will stand behind them,” Thackeray said. He described seeing piles of felled trees at the site as distressing and compared the visit to attending “the funeral of the trees”.
The proposed facility is a pumped storage project, a form of energy infrastructure used to store electricity by moving water between reservoirs. The report does not provide the project’s developer, construction schedule, approval status or detailed environmental-clearance conditions. It says tree felling has already commenced at the site, making the immediate conflict centre on the relationship between renewable-energy infrastructure, land acquisition and ecological impact.
Thackeray alleged that private business interests, including interests linked to Gujarat, were driving the project and questioned the need for the development. He also criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Deputy Chief Ministers for not taking a stand against it. These allegations were made during his address and were not independently established in the supplied report.
He further claimed that 23 renewable-energy projects had been proposed in the Sahyadri ranges, of which three were associated with the Centre and 20 with private entities. He also referred to 236 renewable-energy projects and alleged that rising electricity demand from upcoming data centres was contributing to the expansion of such developments. The report does not specify whether these figures relate exclusively to Maharashtra, nor does it provide project-wise details or documentary support for the claims.
The protest has widened beyond the MNS. Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray, party MP Sanjay Raut and other leaders visited the site earlier in the week and met villagers described as being affected by the project. MNS leaders Bala Nandgaonkar, Avinash Jadhav and Sandeep Deshpande accompanied Raj Thackeray during his visit.
Thackeray also spoke to workers from Wada and Jawhar who had been brought to the area for tree-felling work. He warned that similar projects could affect their own regions in the future and appealed to the police not to support activities that could result in environmental damage. The report says the MNS, Shiv Sena UBT and the Peasants and Workers Party are jointly opposing the destruction of the region’s natural environment.
Leaders of the ruling alliance, including Fadnavis, have defended the proposed projects and accused opponents of spreading a false narrative. They have also shared details of the expected benefits for Maharashtra and its residents. The competing positions have intensified the dispute over how the state should balance renewable-energy capacity, land acquisition, village livelihoods and protection of the Sahyadri landscape. The next developments will depend on the project’s approval process, the response of authorities and whether tree-felling and related site work continue.
