Karjat Pumped Storage: BJP Seeks Modern Tree Transplant Methods
Mumbai, November 1: The Bharatiya Janata Party has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the proposed Torrent pumped storage project in Karjat, located in Raigad district of Maharashtra. Party leaders said that while development must continue, the environment and forests of the region must also be protected.
The party acknowledged that tree felling linked to the project has caused understandable anxiety among local people and environmental enthusiasts. It said the problem should be solved through modern methods rather than dismissed or ignored.
BJP leaders stated that development activities in Karjat are moving ahead and that energy projects of this scale are necessary for the state's needs. However, they added that preserving forests and natural resources in the area is an essential duty of the government.
The party has requested Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and both Deputy Chief Ministers to employ contemporary tree transplantation techniques to save trees in the project site. It cited China, the United States and Japan, where large-scale transplantation methods have been applied with success, and suggested Maharashtra follow a similar path.
According to BJP leaders, experts should carry out a study on how the largest possible number of trees in the project area can be relocated and kept safe. They maintained that development and environmental protection should be seen as complementary rather than conflicting goals.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has defended the Karjat pumped storage project, calling it necessary for Maharashtra's energy security. He said the 3,000 MW project would enable clean energy storage for the state and lower its dependence on coal-based power.
Earlier, Fadnavis had pushed back against opposition objections to the project, describing it as eco-friendly and crucial for the stability of the state's electricity grid. He explained that solar and wind power, though clean, cannot operate 24 hours a day. Pumped storage, he argued, offers a pollution-free way to balance renewable energy and ensure uninterrupted power supply round the clock.
The project has gained prominence chiefly because of the extensive tree felling it requires in the area. It has triggered political tension and concern among environmentalists.