Mumbai: BJP launched a counter-offensive against Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress over the issue of trees being cut for the construction of a pump storage power plant in the Sai Dongar area of Karjat, demanding that they show the two lakh trees they said were planted in Beed district as compensatory afforestation for Middle Vaitarna Project.Addressing a news conference at the BJP state headquarters on Friday, the party’s Mumbai unit president Ameet Satam said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was in power in BMC from 1997 to 2022. “At the time, 10,000 trees were estimated to be cut down by BMC to implement the Middle Vaitarna dam project. However, one lakh trees were cut for the project. As compensation, BMC transferred 540 hectares in Beed district to the forest department for planting two lakh trees. BMC also gave crores of rupees to the forest department for this purpose,” said Satam.He challenged Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and Congress to go on an environmental tour to the 540 hectares spread over 13 villages in Beed district and show people the two lakh trees planted.He further demanded that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis order an inquiry into the tree cutting for the dam project and initiate action.“There is a lot of politics going on in Maharashtra over the issue of trees being cut for the construction of a pump storage power plant in the Sai Dongar area of Karjat. Many leaders, actors and social activists are visiting Karjat out of concern for the environment. In the last few days, we have seen many people going to this place for tourism and sightseeing. Doing politics in the name of environment, misleading the public, stopping the development works started by the government and trying to spread chaos in the society,” said Satam.He alleged Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) were misleading the public and trying to spread anarchy in the country.Satam said many people do not understand the true meaning of sustainable development. For them, the environment has become a fashionable topic. “Talking about the environment, global warming and climate change has become a fashion. Many people talk a lot about the environment and when any environmental issue comes up, they act as if they are the only environmentalists in this country and Maharashtra,” he added.
