The Maharashtra Forest Department has reportedly halted plans to fell 32,490 trees for Torrent Power’s proposed ₹13,500-crore Saidongar pumped-storage hydropower project in Karjat, Raigad district. The proposed 3,000 MW project requires forest land, prompting protests from environmental groups, local communities and political leaders. Concerns include biodiversity loss, wildlife movement, soil erosion and water security. The reported suspension followed demonstrations in the area, although it remains unclear whether the halt will be permanent or how it will affect the project’s approval process.
Karjat Forest Tree-Felling Halted Amid Protests Over ₹13,500-Crore Torrent Power Project
Forest officials pause plans to cut 32,490 trees for the Saidongar hydropower project as environmentalists question ecological damage, water security and wildlife protection.
Karjat, Maharashtra: The Maharashtra Forest Department has reportedly halted plans to fell 32,490 trees for Torrent Power’s ₹13,500-crore Saidongar pumped-storage hydropower project following widespread protests.
The 3,000-megawatt project in Raigad district requires approximately 233 hectares of forest land, triggering opposition from environmental organisations, local communities and political leaders concerned about biodiversity.
Forest officials confirmed the suspension on October 26, citing tensions surrounding the protests, although authorities have not established whether the intervention will become permanent.
The controversy has intensified scrutiny of Maharashtra’s renewable energy expansion, raising fundamental questions about whether clean electricity generation should involve extensive destruction of established forests.
Forest Department’s October 14 Order Sparks Controversy
A forest department communication dated October 14, 2026, associated with forest officer Sameer Shinde, authorised the removal of 32,490 trees within the approved project area.
The Saidongar-I Karjat Off-Stream Open Loop Pumped Storage Project, developed by Torrent Power through its project entities, covers forest areas surrounding several Karjat villages.
Official documents identify approximately 197 hectares of reserved forest, 26 hectares of private forest and nearly 10 hectares of protected forest requiring diversion.
Environmental campaigners have raised concerns that the broader ecological impact could exceed the approved tree count, with some estimates suggesting approximately 48,000 trees may be affected.
However, the higher estimate has not been independently established, and the forest department’s documented permission specifically identifies 32,490 trees for removal under approved conditions.
The proposed development has attracted opposition from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar and environmental organisation NatConnect.
Western Ghats Biodiversity and Water Security Under Scrutiny
Conservationists warn that removing mature Mahua, Banyan and Wild Fig trees could damage forest ecosystems, potentially increasing soil erosion and destabilising vulnerable slopes during monsoons.
Environmental groups have also raised concerns about leopard habitats and wildlife movement, including potential implications for the Indian Giant Squirrel, locally known as Shekru.
The project involves constructing upper and lower reservoirs, with the lower reservoir situated across the Pej River, an important component of the regional drainage system.
Its environmental documentation describes a lower reservoir capacity of approximately 28.96 million cubic metres and proposes recirculating water between reservoirs for electricity generation.
Concerns regarding approximately 23 million cubic metres of water withdrawal and three million cubic metres of annual evaporation require independent verification against detailed hydrological assessments.
Campaigners fear possible consequences for groundwater, seasonal river flows and the wider Ulhas River basin, although the scale of these potential impacts remains disputed.
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Devendra Fadnavis Defends Torrent Power’s Clean Energy Project
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has defended the development, arguing that pumped-storage infrastructure will strengthen renewable energy reliability while helping Maharashtra manage fluctuating electricity demand.
Minister of State for Power Meghna Bordikar has maintained that the project received approvals after complying with conditions prescribed by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry.
Fadnavis has also highlighted proposed compensatory afforestation, including plantation commitments covering approximately 90,000 trees, while conservationists question whether plantations can replace mature forest ecosystems.
Torrent Power has maintained that the development lies outside the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary and its notified eco-sensitive zone and has cited environmental safeguards.
Narendra Modi’s Proposed Visit Adds Political Significance
The dispute has gained political significance ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed November 3, 2026, visit associated with the hydropower project’s foundation ceremony.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has questioned the timing of tree-felling instructions, while Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray has visited affected communities.
Despite the reported suspension, uncertainty persists regarding further tree removal, existing environmental approvals and whether authorities will commission additional ecological assessments before allowing operations.
For Sprouts News, the central question remains whether Maharashtra can reconcile its clean energy ambitions with meaningful forest conservation, transparent decision-making and local environmental safeguards.
The next decisions by forest authorities, regulators and project developers will determine whether the suspension represents temporary administrative relief or a more substantial environmental reassessment.
