Devendra Fadnavis Defends Karjat Pumped Storage Project Amid Environmental Opposition

The project, proposed in Karjat taluka of Raigad district, involves tree felling in the Saydongar area. The issue has drawn criticism from environmentalists and opposition leaders, who have launched an attack on the government. Responding to the concerns, Fadnavis said the project was environmentally friendly and that the opposition was being driven by a lack of understanding of its benefits.

Double the Project Land to Be Given to the Forest Department

Speaking about the project, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said it was entirely environmentally friendly. He explained that solar and wind energy are generated but are not available round the clock, which affects the power grid.

Pumped storage energy is used to ensure the availability of clean energy for 24 hours, he said, adding that the proposed project would generate 3,000 megawatts of electricity. If the same amount of power were to be generated using coal, it would require 28 crore trees, according to the Chief Minister.

Fadnavis said 90,000 trees would be planted as part of the project. He also stated that the Forest Department would be given land equivalent to twice the area being allocated for the project.

The Chief Minister further said that pumped storage technology had a lifespan of 80 years and that the technology would be developed entirely in India.

“This will prevent damage over the next 100 years. Whatever temporary damage is happening now, we will prevent damage thousands of times greater than that,” Fadnavis said.

He maintained that the allegations being raised against the project were based on a lack of study. According to him, the opposition was taking a position against an environmental project without examining its details.

Fadnavis said that a proper study would reveal how political the opposition to the project was. He added that the government would consider the concerns of those who genuinely opposed it and invited suggestions for better technology.

“If there is better technology than this, they should tell us,” the Chief Minister said.

Why Was Karjat Selected for the Project?

Some people have demanded that the proposed project be shifted from Karjat to Marathwada or Vidarbha. Responding to these demands, Fadnavis said pumped storage projects could not be established at just any location.

He said only a limited number of suitable sites had been identified for such projects and described pumped storage projects as green projects with an environmentally friendly life cycle.

According to the Chief Minister, the location in Karjat was suitable for the proposed project.

Fadnavis also referred to the opposition faced by tree felling in Aarey, saying that a similar controversy had emerged there. He claimed that the Supreme Court had eventually brought the facts to light and reprimanded those opposing the project.

The proposed Torrent Power project in Karjat has consequently become a point of contention between the government, environmentalists and opposition parties, with the Chief Minister defending its long-term benefits while the controversy over tree felling in the Saydongar area continues.