Why felling a forest near Mumbai could change the rain in Tamil Nadu

A forest near Mumbai, Saidongar hill, has been partially felled for a 3,000-MW pumped-storage hydropower plant owned by Torrent Power. The project, expected to be operational by 2029, requires 32,000 trees and 377 hectares of land in the Sahyadri range. The felling began on Dussehra morning but was halted after villagers protested.

The forest is essential for the local Katkari tribal communities, providing firewood, honey, mahua, and medicinal plants. The Indian Express found that the tribal families were not recorded as dependent on the forest, allowing the project to proceed without compensating or relocating them.