Residents protest in Chakan on Sunday against proposed tree felling in Karjat
Last year, he announced that 300 crore trees would be planted. Local resident Pratik Jadhav said there was a discrepancy in the number of trees likely to be cut and what is shown in paperwork, with experts estimating the figure to be much higher than the 35,000 cited by govt. “Some trees facing the axe in Karjat are 400-500 years old.
Referring to Gadchiroli and Chandrapur, he claimed that forest officials have reported the loss of tiger corridors, even though telemetry surveys and other data indicate the presence of this wildlife.
Pune : Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday accused chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of “turning Maharashtra into a desert” through large-scale tree felling, claiming that 4-5 lakh trees could soon be hewed for a proposed hydroelectric power project in the forest area of Karjat in Raigad district. Where are these trees going to be planted?” he said. “Large-scale tree felling has also been permitted in the Western Ghats, part of the Sahyadri range recognised as an ecologically sensitive zone,” Thackeray said. Aaditya said his uncle, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, will also visit Karjat and meet villagers around the proposed project site. Their loss cannot be compensated for at any cost,” Jadhav said, adding that they decided to organise a protest to send out a message that such projects will not be tolerated by the common people anymore.
“Fadnavis has decided to turn Maharashtra into a desert and govt is moving in that direction. The CM claims the Karjat project is environmentally friendly. Let him show us how.
It has been a year since then. Residents of Chakan on Sunday staged a protest march against proposed tree felling in Karjat.
Another resident, Ram Kolhe, said development should not come at the cost of the environment. Those in power need to understand the long-term consequences of such decisions,” he said. “The government must realise that the loss of green cover will lead to greater problems in the future.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Hinjewadi IT Park in Pune city, Thackeray said he would visit Karjat on Monday to meet villagers and discuss the next course of action to oppose the proposed tree felling.