NGT questions Saidongar-1 diversion, 233 hectares and 32,490 trees
India
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has put a spotlight on a big forest land diversion for the Saidongar-1 Pumped Storage Project in Karjat, Maharashtra.
The plan would clear 233 hectares of forest and cut down 32,490 trees in Raigad district.
Advocate Sagar K Devre challenged this move, raising serious concerns about the impact on nature and local laws.
Maitreya Ghorpade cites Forest Rights Act
Advocate Maitreya Ghorpade, backing the appeal, says there are major issues with protecting forests and following the Forest Rights Act.
Local village councils (gram sabhas) have also pushed back, especially since the Western Ghats, an area known for its rich biodiversity, could be at risk.