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Did you know? 1 / 24 The Western Ghats × Western Ghats / Sahyadri The 1,600 km mountain chain along India's west coast: older than the Himalaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a global biodiversity hotspot. More in glossary → are older than the Himalaya. UNESCO says their forests shape the Indian monsoon itself.
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Documented Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Western Ghats
About 65%ⓘ × Documented “…cies found in the Western Ghats, 352 (54%) are endemic. Animal diversity is also exceptional, with amphibians (up to 179 species, 65% endemic), reptiles (157 species, 62% endemic), and fishes (219 species, 53% endemic).…” UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Western Ghats ⓘ × Documented “…of the 4-5,000 plant species recorded in the Ghats is very high: of the nearly 650 tree species found in the Western Ghats, 352 (54% ) are endemic. Animal diversity is also exceptional, with amphibians (up to 179 species, 65% endemic), reptiles (157 species, 62%…” UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Western Ghats
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Documented Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Western Ghats
At least 325ⓘ × Documented “The forests of the site include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests anywhere and are home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Western Ghats ⓘ × Documented “…fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species. The globally threatened flora and fauna in the Western Ghats are represented by 229 plant species, 31 mammal species, 15 bird species, 43 amphibian species, 5 reptile species and 1 fish species. Of the total 325 g…” UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Western Ghats ⓘ × Documented “…ian, reptile and fish species. The globally threatened flora and fauna in the Western Ghats are represented by 229 plant species, 31 mammal species, 15 bird species, 43 amphibian species, 5 reptile species and 1 fish species. Of the total 325 globally threatened…” UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Western Ghats ⓘ × Documented “…sh species. The globally threatened flora and fauna in the Western Ghats are represented by 229 plant species, 31 mammal species, 15 bird species, 43 amphibian species, 5 reptile species and 1 fish species. Of the total 325 globally threatened species in the Wes…” UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Western Ghats ⓘ × Documented “…lobally threatened flora and fauna in the Western Ghats are represented by 229 plant species, 31 mammal species, 15 bird species, 43 amphibian species, 5 reptile species and 1 fish species. Of the total 325 globally threatened species in the Western Ghats, 129 a…” UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Western Ghats
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Documented Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Western Ghats
The Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area × Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) About 56,825 sq km of the Western Ghats proposed for protection since 2014; still only a draft, reissued six times. More in glossary → has been issued as a draft six times since 2014 and never made final. Maharashtra's share is 17,340ⓘ × Reported “Overall, the notification proposes to declare 56,825.7 sq km as ecologically sensitive, including 449 sq km in Gujarat, 17,340 sq km in Maharashtra, 1,461 sq km in Goa, 20,668 sq km in Karnataka, 6,914 sq km in Tamil Nadu, and 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala.” Onmanorama: sixth draft ESA notification (3 Aug 2024)
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Reported Source: Onmanorama: sixth draft ESA notification (3 Aug 2024)
A pumped storage project × Pumped storage project (PSP) Two reservoirs at different heights: water is pumped up when power is cheap and released through turbines when power is needed. More in glossary → uses more electricity than it gives back. At 77.5%ⓘ × Documented Derived on this site “In its order dated April 30, the commission adopted a tariff discovered through competitive bidding, fixing an annual fixed charge of Rs 123 lakh per MW with a declared cycle loss of 22.5%, resulting in a total annual storage cost of Rs 150.675 lakh per MW.” 100% − 22.5% cycle loss = 77.5% round-trip efficiency. DT Next: TNERC approves tariff for 500 MW pumped storage round-trip efficiency × Round-trip efficiency Share of the electricity used for pumping that comes back as electricity. For PSPs, typically 70–80%. More in glossary → , 22.5ⓘ × Documented “In its order dated April 30, the commission adopted a tariff discovered through competitive bidding, fixing an annual fixed charge of Rs 123 lakh per MW with a declared cycle loss of 22.5 %, resulting in a total annual storage cost of Rs 150.675 lakh per MW.” TNERC PSP tariff order 2026 (22.5% cycle loss)
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Documented Source: TNERC PSP tariff order 2026 (22.5% cycle loss) · NREL ATB 2023: round-trip efficiency 70–87%
The forest committee that cleared Karjat recorded 48,557 treesⓘ × Documented “Also, the proposal involves felling of 48557 number of trees.” FAC minutes, 2 Dec 2025 (Saidongar-1 Stage-I) , page177 · 2 December 2025ⓘ × Documented “…te Change to review the project’s environmental implications. The organisation has raised concerns over the proposed diversion of 233 hectares of forest land, warning of potential impacts on the Saidongar area’s natural resources, wildlife and local communities.…” FPJ (citing TOI): felling permission of 14 Oct 2026 · 25 October 2026draft EIA × Environmental impact assessment (EIA) The study a developer must commission on a project's effects on land, water, wildlife and people before it can get an EC. More in glossary → said 'about 48,000ⓘ × Documented “clearing of 48,000 nos. of trees. (Trees proposed for plantation on Muck disposal area also” Saidongar-1 draft EIA executive summary (MPCB) , page21 · August 2025ⓘ × Documented “…Pawar Oppose Cutting Of 32,490 Trees For Karjat Power Project A forest order dated October 14, 2026, reportedly permits felling 32,490 trees in Karjat forests for Torrent Power’s proposed 3,000 MW Saidongar-I project. Commenting on the opposition criticism, state…” FPJ (citing TOI): felling permission of 14 Oct 2026 · 25 October 2026
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Documented Source: FAC minutes, 2 Dec 2025 (Saidongar-1 Stage-I) · FPJ (citing TOI): felling permission of 14 Oct 2026 · Saidongar-1 draft EIA executive summary (MPCB)
197.77ⓘ × Documented “i.e. 197.7653 ha out of 233 ha, falls within the boundary of the proposed” FAC minutes, 2 Dec 2025 (Saidongar-1 Stage-I), item xxiii , page179 · 2 December 2025ⓘ × Documented “diversion of 233 ha . forest land (197.0272 Ha Reserved Forest, 26.066 Ha Private” FAC minutes, 2 Dec 2025 (Saidongar-1 Stage-I), item xxiii , page176 · 2 December 2025
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Documented Source: FAC minutes, 2 Dec 2025 (Saidongar-1 Stage-I), item xxiii
Shirawta's forest has canopy density × Canopy density / very dense forest How much of the ground the tree crowns cover. 70% or more is 'very dense forest' in India's forest survey. More in glossary → 0.7ⓘ × Documented “0.7 (Very Dense Forest) of Eco Class I and 64729 number of trees are” FAC (Advisory Committee) minutes, 8 May 2026, MoM ID FC/MOM/AC/969417/2026 , page92 · 8 May 2026ⓘ × Documented “0.7 (Very Dense Forest) of Eco Class I and 64729 number of trees are” FAC (Advisory Committee) minutes, 8 May 2026, MoM ID FC/MOM/AC/969417/2026 , page92 · 8 May 2026FAC × Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) The central committee that recommends whether forest land may be diverted for a project. More in glossary → still recommended Stage-I × Forest clearance (Stage-I / Stage-II) Central permission to use forest land for a project. Stage-I is in-principle approval with conditions; Stage-II is final approval. More in glossary → approval.
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Documented Source: FAC (Advisory Committee) minutes, 8 May 2026, MoM ID FC/MOM/AC/969417/2026
The largest PSP proposed in Maharashtra, JSW's 5,400 MWⓘ × Documented “(i) Project Name : 5400 MW Pumped Storage Project at Taluka: Bhor & Mahad, Dis” EAC 63rd meeting minutes, 25 Sep 2026 (item 63.3) , page2 · 25 September 2026ⓘ × Documented “Project, involving a total area of 645.62 ha , located in Taluka Bhor and Mahad, Districts Pune and Raigad,” EAC 63rd meeting minutes, 25 Sep 2026 (item 63.3) , page98 · 25 September 2026ⓘ × Documented “Clearance (FC) for the 241.22 ha of forest land involved in the project within the” EAC 63rd meeting minutes, 25 Sep 2026 (item 63.3) , page233 · 25 September 2026
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Documented Source: EAC 63rd meeting minutes, 25 Sep 2026 (item 63.3)
The EAC × Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) The central committee of experts that recommends ToR and EC for river valley and hydro projects, including PSPs. More in glossary → visited the Amba site in June, before the rains, saw cactus and dry streams, and concluded that the reservoirs 'will enhance moisture content'.
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Documented Source: EAC 58th meeting minutes, 15 Jul 2026 (item 58.6)
Humbarli Birmani's upper dam lies inside the Mahabaleshwar–Panchgani eco-sensitive zone × Eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) A notified buffer around a sanctuary or national park where some activities are banned or regulated. More in glossary → . The EAC deferred it in April 2026; the zone's committee issued a no-objection in July, and ToR followed nine days later.
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Documented Source: EAC 58th meeting minutes, 15 Jul 2026 (item 58.5)
Maharashtra has signed about 55ⓘ × Documented “Maharashtra Pumped Storage Power Projects: 55 MoUs Fast-Tracked” Electrical Mirror: ensure fast implementation of 55 MoUs , page55 · 13 April 2026ⓘ × Documented “…eting, Maharashtra has signed 55 MoUs with various companies to develop pumped storage projects with a total proposed capacity of 78,215 MW . The projects are expected to attract an investment of around ₹4,16,701 crore and generate nearly 1,27,990 employment opportun…” Electrical Mirror: CM review of 55 PSP MoUs ⓘ × Documented Derived on this site Bhira 150 MW + Ghatghar 250 MW. Wikipedia: Bhira Hydroelectric Project (150 MW pumped storage unit) ⓘ × Documented “…Specifications [ edit ] The plant's maximum output capacity is nominally 300 MW , generated by six 25 MW Pelton turbines and a 150 MW pumped storage generator added in 1997. In 2014 two 10 kW microturbine units were added to generate further power from the t…” Wikipedia: Bhira Hydroelectric Project (150 MW pumped storage unit) ⓘ × Documented “dated 10.06.1985 to the existing project Ghatghar 2x125MW PSP. The committee” 2 × 125 MW = 250 MW. EAC 52nd meeting minutes, 13 Apr 2026 , page4 · 13 April 2026
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Documented Source: Wikipedia: Bhira Hydroelectric Project (150 MW pumped storage unit) · EAC 52nd meeting minutes, 13 Apr 2026: existing Ghatghar 2x125 MW PSP · CEA: PSP development in country (Jun 2024) · Electrical Mirror: CM review of 55 PSP MoUs
Bare-looking lateritic plateaus bloom in the monsoon. On the Kas plateau × Lateritic plateau (sada) Flat, rocky hill tops that look barren in summer but burst into rare, mostly endemic flowers in the monsoon. More in glossary → , about 80%ⓘ × Documented “Almost two thirds of over 100 phytogeographically significant species occur on the plateau top; these represent 26 plant families and 43 genera. About 80% of the species are restricted to the upper plateau and its escarpments.” Watve (2013), Kas plateau endemic plant diversity
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Documented Source: Watve (2013), Kas plateau endemic plant diversity
The Forest Rights Act × Forest Rights Act (FRA) The 2006 law that recognises tribal and forest-dwelling communities' rights over the land and forests they use. More in glossary → does not spell out gram sabha × Gram sabha The assembly of all adult voters of a village; under FRA and PESA its consent is needed for some decisions on land and forests. More in glossary → consent for forest diversion; a 2009 environment ministry circular made it a condition. Whether it is followed is a separate question.
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Reported Source: forestrightsact.com: FRA and forest diversion timeline
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