Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday criticised the reported felling of nearly 1,100 trees for a hydropower project in Maharashtra's Western Ghats. He called it another example of "ecological devastation" being inflicted on the people of the country, according to The New Indian Express.
Key points
- Jairam Ramesh shared a media report saying about 1,100 trees have been felled and over 32,000 are marked for removal.
- The pumped-storage project in the Western Ghats has raised concerns over forest rights, tribal livelihoods and ecological impact.
- Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had earlier alleged that the forest department was ordered to fell more than 32,000 trees near Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.
- The Opposition and green activists have accused the Mahayuti government of destroying forests and wildlife.
What Jairam Ramesh said
Ramesh, who is the Congress general secretary in charge of communications, posted the media report on X. He wrote that this was "yet another example of ecological devastation that is being inflicted on the people of our country." The former environment minister also asked, "Who enjoys the gains and who bears the pain?"
The project and the allegations
His comments came days after Sanjay Raut made allegations about the same project. In a post on X, Raut claimed the Maharashtra forest department had been ordered to fell more than 32,000 trees near the eco-sensitive Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. He said this was being done ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit next month for the ground-breaking ceremony of the project.
Raut also shared an approval letter that was purportedly issued by a forest official. The letter, as described in the report, grants the diversion of 233 hectares of land for the Saidongar-I Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project. The project is located in Karjat in Raigad district and is estimated to cost Rs 13,505 crore.
Why it matters
The Western Ghats are an ecologically sensitive region, and the report says the project has raised worries about forest rights and the livelihoods of tribal communities. The Opposition and environmental activists have criticised the tree felling, accusing the Mahayuti government of destroying forests and wildlife.
The source does not include any response from the Maharashtra government or the forest department to these allegations. It also does not say whether the claims in the approval letter have been independently verified, as the letter was described as "purportedly" issued by a forest official.
What happens next
According to the allegations, the Prime Minister is expected to visit next month for the ground-breaking ceremony of the project. Further details on the felling work or any official reply were not available in the report.
