Shirawta PSP

Sources disagree

Notes

• 81% of the site is forest: 160.783 ha (157.157 ha reserve forest, 3.626 ha private forest) of 197.797 ha; the 37.014 ha non-forest land is Tata Power's own.
• Lower reservoir is the existing Shirawta dam.
• 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 → site visit × EAC site visit An inspection by EAC members. Since Sep 2024 the EAC wants one for every Western Ghats PSP before EC. More in glossary → 23 Feb 2024 (per SANDRP); public hearing × Public hearing A meeting near the project site, run by the state pollution control board, where affected people can object on record. More in glossary → 29 Oct 2024 at Khandshi; EAC recommended EC × Environmental clearance (EC) The environment ministry's permission for a project, given after the EIA and public hearing, with conditions attached. More in glossary → 26 Sep 2025; EC granted 15 Jun 2026.
• Forest proposal FP/MH/HYD/IRRIG/477051/2024: the forest is 'Very Dense Forest × 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 → ' (canopy 0.7, Eco Class I) and 64,729 trees are to be felled; 130.669 ha of it is the upper reservoir.
• The FAC × Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) The central committee that recommends whether forest land may be diverted for a project. More in glossary → deferred 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 → on 24 Mar 2026 (asked for the ESA × 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 → division's view) and recommended it on 8 May 2026, after the ESZ × Eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) A notified buffer around a sanctuary or national park where some activities are banned or regulated. More in glossary → division said PSPs × 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 → are a 'regulated activity' in the draft ESA.
• So Stage-I was recommended before the 15 Jun EC; the date of the Stage-I letter itself is not known.
• Compensatory afforestation × Compensatory afforestation (CA) and CAMPA Planting on other land to 'replace' forest that is cut. The developer pays; the money goes to a state CAMPA fund. More in glossary → is 160.783 ha of Tata Power's own land at Tata Talav, Mulshi, which already has tree cover (density 0.4), so only a protection plan (₹7.33 cr) is proposed.
• The FAC noted Karjat (Saidongar-1) is 5.82 km away; the state said the two are in different basins.
• Works reported to start July 2026.

Timeline

1. 15 June 2026 · Clearance Documented #

   Environmental clearance granted to Tata's Shirawta PSP

   Details and documents

   MoEFCC granted EC for the 1,800 MWⓘ×Documented“c) CEA/CWC accorded concurrence to Shirawta PSP (1800 MW) vide Office”Shirawta EC letter, 15 Jun 2026, page15 · 15 June 2026 project on 197.797 haⓘ×Documented“197.797 ha at Village Khandshi, Rakaswadi, Thoran etc, Sub-district Mawal, District Pune,”Shirawta EC letter, 15 Jun 2026, page1 · 15 June 2026, 160.783 haⓘ×Documented“various project components, out of which 160.783 ha is forest land and 37.014 ha is non-”Shirawta EC letter, 15 Jun 2026, page14 · 15 June 2026 of it forest. The EC requires Stage-I forest clearance 'before grant of EC', but its annexure lists the forest proposal as pending and FRA × 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 → as under progress; whether Stage-I came first is not stated.

   Shirawta PSP · Shirawta EC letter, 15 Jun 2026

2. 8 May 2026 · Clearance Documented #

   Forest committee recommends Stage-I for Shirawta: 64,729 trees in very dense forest

   Details and documents

   The FAC recommended in-principle diversion of 160.7ⓘ×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 202683 haⓘ×Documented“for diversion of 160.783 ha. forest land for construction of Shirawta Off Stream”FAC (Advisory Committee) minutes, 8 May 2026, MoM ID FC/MOM/AC/969417/2026, page92 · 8 May 2026 for Tata's Shirawta PSP. The minutes describe the forest as Very Dense Forest (canopy 0.7, Eco Class I) with 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 to be felled. The FAC had deferred it on 24 Mar 2026 pending the ESA division's view, which said PSPs are a regulated activity in the draft Western Ghats ESA.

   Shirawta PSP · FAC (Advisory Committee) minutes, 8 May 2026, MoM ID FC/MOM/AC/969417/2026

3. 26 September 2025 · Clearance Documented #

   EAC recommends EC for Tata's Shirawta PSP

   Details and documents

   1,800 MWⓘ×Documented“c) CEA/CWC accorded concurrence to Shirawta PSP (1800 MW) vide Office Memorandum”Parivesh: EAC minutes, page3 on 197.797 haⓘ×Documented“Open Loop Pumped Storage Project (1800 MW) in an area of 197.797 ha at Village Khandshi,”Parivesh: EAC minutes, page2 in Maval, of which 160.783 haⓘ×Documented“various project components, out of which 160.783 ha is forest land and 37.014 ha is non-”Parivesh: EAC minutes, page2 is forest. The only EAC site visit on record is from 23 Feb 2024, during ToR × Terms of Reference (ToR) The list of studies an EIA must cover, set by the expert committee. Getting a ToR is the first clearance step, not a permission to build. More in glossary → appraisal (per SANDRP).

   Shirawta PSP · Parivesh: EAC minutes

4. 23 February 2024 · Clearance Reported #

   EAC team visits Bhivpuri and Shirawta sites

   Details and documents

   The EAC visited the Tata Power Bhivpuri and Shirawta sites on 23 Feb 2024 while appraising their ToRs, seven months before its 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 → site-visit rule. No later visit is listed for either project before their ECs.

   Bhivpuri PSP · Shirawta PSP · SANDRP: EAC & FAC decisions in 2024 (20 Mar 2024 rows)

5. 9 August 2023 · MoU signed, no clearance yet Reported #

   Tata Power signs MoU × Memorandum of understanding (MoU) A non-binding agreement between the state and a developer to study and build a project at a site, with a water allocation. More in glossary → for Shirawta (1,800 MW) and Bhivpuri (1,000 MW)

   Details and documents

   ₹13,000 crore for two PSPs in Pune and Raigad.ⓘ×Reported“…MW) in the state. These projects, with an estimated investment of approximately Rs. 13000 Cr, will be situated at Shirawta, Pune (1800 MW) and Bhivpuri, Raigad (1000 MW) districts. The collaboration is poised to drive the state towards its ambitious goal of becomi…”Tata Power releaseⓘ×Reported“…ry’s clean energy landscape</p>\r\n<p>2. 1800 MW Pumped Hydro Storage Project to be located at Shirawata, Pune district and 1000 MW PSP at Bhivpuri, Raigad district</p>\r\n<p>3. Projects will support to Maharashtra Government s goal of achieving a $1 T…”Tata Power release

   Shirawta PSP · Bhivpuri PSP · Tata Power release