Harshwardhan Sapkal
Mumbai: State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal will visit Bhimashankar forest area with party supporters on Thursday to meet villagers protesting against the plan to axe over 32,000 trees for the power plant project. “During Fadnavis’s previous term, the state had pledged to plant 33 crore trees. PWP is likely to wave black flags during a possible visit by PM Narendra Modi to lay the project’s foundation stone on Nov 3.
Dubbing CM Devendra Fadnavis a “tree eater”, he demanded sustainable development. The state cannot afford such jokes at the cost of the environment and people’s health,” said Sapkal. Meanwhile, MNS chief Raj Thackeray , who visited Saidongar forest area in Karjat on Wednesday, said “Gujarat-based moneybags” are eyeing Maharashtra forests and other parts of MMR as well as coastal areas. There are too many questions which the CM must answer,” said Thackeray at a public gathering in Karjat. Its state spokesperson Chitralekha Patil said the party will not remain silent.
Nobody knows where those trees were planted. “Who is going to benefit from this pumped storage power project inside Karjat forest, and more importantly, where will this power generated be used? Did the Maharashtra govt find no other suitable place for this project, which is why so many trees are to be destroyed within the Sahyadri forest range? Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) has also opposed the project, demanding clarity on tree felling, water use, environmental impact and local rights before work proceeds.