Maharashtra Power Project: 32,000 Trees Face Axe In Raigad, Villagers ProtestA proposed 3,000 megawatt pumped storage hydropower project in Karjat taluka of Maharashtra's Raigad district has sparked intense local opposition and environmental concerns. The Sai Dongar-1 project, developed by Torrent Power at an estimated cost of 13,500 crore rupees, entails diverting 233 hectares of forest land and felling 32,490 trees.
While local villagers are protesting over the destruction of forests, loss of grazing land, and severe threats to their livelihoods, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has defended the project as an initiative for cleaner energy integration, announcing compensatory plans to plant 90,000 trees.