Adani's energy project to destroy ecologically sensitive forests of Western Ghats

The Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, granted preliminary approvals for three large hydropower projects in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats region to an Adani group company. Documents obtained through India's right-to-information law reveal that these approvals were granted despite legal restrictions against such construction in areas designated as off-limits for such projects.

According to the report by Article-14, The Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) projects, estimated to cost around Rs 19,256 crore, are planned in the old-growth forests and grasslands of the Western Maharashtra districts of Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, and Raigad. These areas are renowned for their rich biodiversity, housing rare and endemic plant and animal species.

The Adani group has also signed an agreement with the government of Maharashtra to build two more projects that use water to make electricity in the Western Ghats. The five projects will have a total capacity of 11,000 megawatts and will cost about Rs 19,000 crore. The projects will take four to five years to complete.

Known for being among the world's richest and oldest havens for both fauna and flora, the Western Ghats also provides an essential water source for millions of individuals. UNESCO, the prominent international organization responsible for safeguarding cultural and natural treasures, recognizes the Western Ghats as a World Heritage Site because of its immense ecological value.

However, the proposed projects have raised concerns among environmentalists and experts about the potential destruction of forests, disruption of wildlife habitats, and adverse impacts on the delicate ecosystems of the Western Ghats.

Adani's project threatens eco-sensitive forests

The controversy stems from the interpretation of legal regulations by officials from India’s Ministry of environment, forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Despite regulations prohibiting red-category projects, such as pump-storage projects, in ecologically fragile areas of the Western Ghats, officials interpreted the law in a manner that allowed the initial approvals for the Adani projects to proceed.

The Adani company's own documents submitted with the applications revealed plans to use more than 150 hectares of forest land for building dams, access roads, workers’ housing, and other infrastructure. This has raised concerns about irreversible damage to the region's forests and ecology.

Furthermore, the appointment of an Adani Green Energy advisor to the union environment ministry’s expert advisory committee (EAC), which approves such projects, raised questions about possible conflicts of interest.

Experts: Interpretation lacks legal foundation

Environmental law experts have criticized the interpretation of regulations by the environment ministry officials, stating that it lacks legal foundation. They argue that only regulations issued in November 2013, under the Environment Protection Act (EPA), are legally valid and prohibit such projects in ecologically sensitive areas.

The controversy has highlighted broader concerns about the protection of India’s last remaining wilderness areas and the need for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations. The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity, play a crucial role in influencing the monsoon and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people.

While the Adani projects are still in the initial stages of approval, the controversy underscores the delicate balance between economic development and environmental conservation in India. It also raises questions about the efficacy of regulatory mechanisms in safeguarding ecologically sensitive areas from large-scale industrial projects.

Govt interpret law differently, allowing projects

The government's decision-making process is grounded in a statute that denotes that certain territories necessitate heightened protection due to their environmental sensitivity. These regions are classified as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs). The legislation explicitly disallows large-scale, water-dependent electricity generation projects within these ESAs. Nonetheless, the interpretation of the law by government officials diverges, suggesting such projects are permissible within ESAs, given that they bear no linkage to river systems.

Some experts have said that the government’s interpretation is wrong and against the law. They have said that the projects will still harm the ESAs and the Western Ghats. They have also said that the projects will encourage more such projects in other sensitive areas. 

The Adani group has said that the projects will help the country to use more clean energy and less dirty energy. They have said that the projects will store water when there is extra electricity and use it to make electricity when there is less. They have said that the projects will not affect the rivers or the forests.

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