Maharashtra clears 83,700 sq ft forest land for 2 Adani Group projects

Maharashtra's government has given the green light to divert nearly 83,700 square feet of forest land for two projects by Adani Group companies in Raigad and Amravati regions. The Forest Department announced two separate Government Resolutions on Monday, authorizing the land to be used for Adani Cementation Limited and Adani Total Gas Limited's initiatives.

The larger area, comprising roughly 69,933 square feet, is earmarked for Adani Cementation's Raigad Cement Bulk Terminal. This includes reserved forest, nala mangrove forest, and creek mangrove forest land in the Shahapur and Shahabaz villages of Alibag taluka, Raigad district. The land will be utilized for constructing a berthing jetty, conveyor corridor, backup facilities, and an approach road.

However, the government permission comes with conditions, stipulating that forest officials must have unobstructed access to the area. Should Adani Cementation restrict access or cause any hindrance, the forest land diversion for non-forest use could be revoked.

The second order pertains to a smaller 13,788 square feet of reserved and identified forest land in Amravati for Adani Total Gas Limited. The company will use this land to lay an underground steel pipeline for establishing a natural gas distribution network in the city and its vicinity. Together, the two government orders encompass approximately 0.78 hectares of forest land.

The Raigad project involves mangrove forest land, while the Amravati project encompasses reserved and identified forest land. The government's orders did not specify details on compensatory afforestation measures or other conditions, aside from those outlined in the respective orders.