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Did you know? 1 / 17 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 of 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 → ' amphibians, and 54%ⓘ × 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 of its tree species, are found nowhere else on Earth.
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Documented Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Western Ghats
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 to be felled on 233 haⓘ × 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 2026 ; Torrent's own draft 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 '. The felling permission reported in Oct 2026 is for 32,490ⓘ × 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 of Karjat's 233 haⓘ × 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 of forest lies inside the proposed Rajmachi Conservation Reserve. The forest committee cleared it anyway, because the reserve has not been notified yet.
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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 , 'very dense forest', and 64,729 treesⓘ × 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 are to be felled. The FAC × 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 × 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 → 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 project in Bhor and Mahad, needs 645.62 haⓘ × 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 , of which 241.22 haⓘ × 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 is forest.
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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 PSP MoUs for 78,215 MWⓘ × 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 . Only about 400 MWⓘ × Documented Derived on this site Bhira 150 MW + Ghatghar 250 MW. Wikipedia: Bhira Hydroelectric Project (150 MW pumped storage unit) actually runs today: Bhira (150 MWⓘ × 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) ) and Ghatghar (250 MWⓘ × 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 of the region's significant plant species grow only on the plateau top and its cliffs.
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Documented Source: Watve (2013), Kas plateau endemic plant diversity
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