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Eco-Sensitive Zone Halts Tata Power Project
12 Apr
Summary
- Tata Power's 1800-MW storage project proposal was deferred by FAC.
- The project involves diverting 160.78 hectares of very dense forest land.
- Proposed land falls within an eco-sensitive area of the Western Ghats.
The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has postponed a decision on Tata Power's proposal to divert 160.78 hectares of forest land for an 1800-MW Pumped Hydro Storage Project. The project is planned for Shirwata in Pune district and requires the felling of 64,729 trees from a very dense forest area. This crucial deferral stems from the land's location within the eco-sensitive zone of the Western Ghats.
The FAC requested further comments from the environment ministry regarding the project's feasibility in such a sensitive area. While the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is nearly 20 km away, the proposed site is noted to support significant wildlife, necessitating a mitigation plan. The project involves a new upper reservoir on Jambhivali-Thoran hills, utilizing the existing Shirawta reservoir as the lower reservoir.
Officials have stated the project will not displace any human populations, thus negating the need for resettlement and rehabilitation plans. The project aims to use the reservoirs cyclically for storage and power generation, drawing make-up water from the Shirawta reservoir itself.
