All Industrial Projects in The State to Follow Green Norms: Maharashtra Min Shelar

Mumbai: Maharashtra Minister for Information Technology and AI Ashish Shelar on Sunday allayed concerns over tree-felling for Torrent Power's hydro-energy project in Raigad, saying any industrial project coming up in the state would follow environment-friendly practices.

Reacting to Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray's criticism of the Torrent project, Shelar said the Opposition party leader had no moral right to speak on environmental issues, claiming that the previous Sena (UBT)-led government had failed to act against polluting companies in Mumbai.

"Aaditya Thackeray has no right to speak on the environment. When he was the state environment minister, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued orders to shut companies in the Mankhurd-Govandi areas of Mumbai that had been fined crores of rupees, warning that they would cause pollution. Despite this, his party and government decided against taking action," Shelar told reporters.

Responding to a question about Torrent Power's project, the minister said he did not know the complete details, but assured that any industry coming to Maharashtra would comply with environmental norms.

"I am not fully aware of the details of the Torrent project, but I can certainly assure you that any industry coming here will follow environment-friendly practices," he said.

The Saidongar-1 Pumped Storage Project, a 3,000 MW hydro-energy initiative in Karjat tehsil of Raigad, is expected to contribute to grid reliability and energy security in the state and other regions. It envisages an investment of Rs 13,505 crore.

Environmental activists and Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Raj Thackeray-led MNS, have come out against the "rampant" cutting of hundreds of trees for Torrent Power's project.

Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday alleged that thousands of trees were being indiscriminately felled for the project and questioned the permissions granted by the forest department. He also accused the authorities of prioritising private companies over environmental concerns and local opposition.

Kailash More, leader of the Karjat Paryavaran Bachao Samiti, said the organisation's members would stage a protest if the tree felling was not stopped.

According to an official, the Union Environment Ministry issued final approval on October 6 for the diversion of 233 hectares of forest land and the felling of 48,000 trees for the project.

Maharashtra Minister of State for Power Meghna Bordikar on Saturday said Thackeray was creating confusion among the public by opposing the project on the basis of incomplete information.

"The Union Power Ministry has approved it in view of the state's growing electricity demand, and the project received clearance only after complying with all the conditions laid down by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry," she said.

Bordikar urged Thackeray to stop obstructing development works and understand the facts before criticising a project, which she said was important to meet Maharashtra's growing power requirements.