00:00But to our Get Real India story today, a 3,000 megawatt power project and a forest under threat.
00:05In Maharashtra's Raigad, a massive hydropower project has triggered a battle over development, environment and survival.
00:12The proposed Saeedod Nagar project could see over 32,000 trees being felled, 233 hectares of forest land diverted.
00:21While the Maharashtra government is defending the project as a step towards cleaner energies,
00:25villagers are up in arms, fearing the loss of their forests, grazing land and livelihoods.
00:30Now the Supreme Court is also intervening. Take a look.
00:55A proposed 3,000 megawatt hydropower project in Karjat Taluka of Raigad district in Maharashtra has triggered environmental concerns.
01:05The Saeedongar 1 project, being developed by Torrent Power, is under scrutiny over the proposed felling of 32,490 trees
01:14and its impact on forest ecology.
01:23Local villagers are up in arms.
01:25They fear losing access to forest, grazing land and the natural resources that have sustained their families for years.
01:58The villagers are mostly worried about the impact the project will have on their families.
02:22The proposed Saeedongar 1 pumped storage project is a 3,000 megawatt hydro facility.
02:29It is estimated to cost around 13,500 crore rupees.
02:34The project will use two reservoirs at different elevations to store water and generate electricity.
02:41The technology is designed to support integration of solar and wind energy.
02:47The project is expected to require diversion of 233 hectares of forest land.
02:53According to reports, citing Forest Department documents, permission was granted on October 14th for the felling of 32,490 trees.
03:09The issue has sparked a political row.
03:12Shiv Sena UBT leader Aditya Thakre visited the project site on October 26th and met villagers.
03:19Two days later, MNS chief Raj Thakre too visited the village.
03:27Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has defended the project.
03:30He has announced plans for the plantation of 90,000 trees.
03:38Torrent Power maintains the project is located around 16 kilometers from the Bhima Shankar Wildlife Sanctuary.
03:45The company says all its components fall outside the sanctuary's boundary and notified eco-sensitive zone.
03:52But villagers are not convinced.
03:55For them, the stakes are high as it concerns their livelihoods.
04:00With Omkar Wable, Bureau Report, India Today.
