Voices

Four objections: no PESA × PESA and Fifth Schedule areas In tribal-majority 'Scheduled Areas', the 1996 PESA Act gives gram sabhas a say over land acquisition and resources. More in glossary → 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 → approval; Fifth Schedule land cannot be acquired; 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 → rights not settled; no LARR rehabilitation identified.

Over 500ⓘ×Reported“…s and agitations grew stronger. Ultimately, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) postponed the public hearing when over 500 people from Junnar gathered to protest outside their office in Pune, on August 17. Suresh Wajage, a Junnar resident, ended his ni…”Sanctuary Asia people protested; the 21 Aug 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 → was postponed and Suresh Wajage ended a nine-day hunger strike.

Residents of Dhak and Potal protested and demanded cancellation, saying the project harms livelihoods and natural resources.

Residents learned at the last minute of a public hearing held in Gaurkamt, a village outside the affected area.

A gram sabha passed resolutions against the project; Torrent has not clarified its status. No community impact assessment was done and only 100ⓘ×Alleged“Citing the “executive summary of the project”, he claimed only 100 jobs will be created during the operation phase of the project.”ThePrint operational jobs are listed.

About 144 haⓘ×Documented“…orage hydropower project planned by Torrent Power Ltd . The project, covering a total of 370 hectares (233 ha of forest area and 144 ha of non-forested area), will comprise of two reservoirs. The upper reservoir will be constructed on the hilltop with maximum da…”Land Conflict Watch of private land to be acquired across six villages (Dhak 73.55 haⓘ×Documented“Bhaliwadi (2.29 ha), Ambot (1.34 ha), Potal (6.87), Pali (48.14 ha), Saidongar (11.79 ha) and Dhak (73.55 ha)”Land Conflict Watch, Pali 48.14 haⓘ×Documented“Bhaliwadi (2.29 ha), Ambot (1.34 ha), Potal (6.87), Pali (48.14 ha), Saidongar (11.79 ha) and Dhak (73.55 ha)”Land Conflict Watch). No household count published; R&R × Rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) What a project must provide to people who lose homes, land or livelihoods. More in glossary → declared not applicable.

Villages that already face water scarcity fear the project will worsen shortages while benefits flow to cities.

Residents say 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 → survey permissions were never obtained; strangers taking measurements were chased away. The district has not shared proof of permission.

Ganpat Mengal, a Thakar Adivasi, holds Individual Forest Rights on land proposed for the lower reservoir, plus Community Forest Rights awarded in 2019.

Sahyadri × 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 → Vachva Sangharsh Samiti is preparing legal action across 65 villagesⓘ×Reported“…l proposed PSPs before approvals proceed. The Sahyadri Vachva Sangharsh Samiti is now preparing legal action, mobilising across 65 affected villages. Khubi resident Avinash Supe summarised the conflict: "Amhala prashna padlay, Sahyadri Adani chi ka Sahyadri Ad…”Sanctuary Asia; counsel says gram sabha consultation and informed-consent rights are violated.

Pune and Thane Collectors, Adani Green, THDC, MPCB and the Forest Department did not respond to requests for comment.

In a Scheduled Area, 10ⓘ×Reported“There shall be 130 affected families of which 10 shall be displaced families. The acquisition”EAC 30th meeting minutes, 30 Apr 2025 (Bhavali EC), page112 · 30 April 2025 families face displacement and 130ⓘ×Reported“There shall be 130 affected families of which 10 shall be displaced families. The acquisition”EAC 30th meeting minutes, 30 Apr 2025 (Bhavali EC), page112 · 30 April 2025 are affected; no gram sabha consent process has been sought.

“There was no public hearing on the project before the permission was granted.”

About 110 villagesⓘ×Alleged“…ion_pumped_hydro_projects_to_impact_biodiversity_hotspot (18 July 2024) Kolhapur villagers oppose Adani PSP Residents of nearly 110 villages in Kolhapur have opposed the pumped hydropower project coming up at Anjiwade village, in Kudal tehsil of Sindhudrug dist…”SANDRP: 2024 concerns opposed; activists say no public hearing preceded permission. Patgaon dam is the only water source for hilly Bhudargad tehsil.

Farmers and gram sabhas say consultation under FRA was inadequate and the project was presented as an irrigation dam rather than a peak-power plant.