Report: Maharashtra Forest Department is kind to Adani Group! Project cost reduced from Rs 5,675 crore to Rs 56.75 crore, opposition raised questions

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Adani Green Energy Project Controversy : A new controversy seems to be arising regarding Adani Green Energy project in Satara district of Maharashtra. According to reports, the cost of this project was reduced from Rs 5,675 crore to Rs 56.75 crore, due to which the amount to be deposited for the protection of wildlife also reduced from Rs 227 crore to Rs 2.27 crore. When this matter comes to light, allegations are being made of benefiting the company by ignoring the rules. Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have cornered the government regarding this.

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According to 'The Indian Express' report, documents and records have revealed that Adani Group's renewable energy company 'Adani Green Energy Limited' has proposed to reduce the cost of its 1,500 MW hydropower project in Maharashtra's Satara district from Rs 5,675 crore to Rs 56.75 crore. This huge reduction in cost (100 times reduction) is significant because it reduces the amount to be paid to Adani Green Energy for the conservation and protection of the wildlife sanctuary by the same proportion—i.e. now only Rs 2.27 crore instead of Rs 227 crore. Maharashtra Forest Department has recently accepted this proposal reducing the cost of the project to Rs 56.75 crore. Subsequently, the company has deposited Rs 56.75 lakh (1% of Rs 56.75 crore) in the bank account of 'Sahyadri Tiger Reserve'. The remaining amount will be deposited after the project is approved by the 'National Board for Wildlife' (NBWL).

What is the whole matter?

According to the newspaper report, Adani Green Energy proposed to reduce the cost of its Satara hydropower project from Rs 5,675 crore to Rs 56.75 crore. Due to this cut, the amount to be deposited for wildlife conservation has reduced from Rs 227 crore to only Rs 2.275 crore. The 1,500 MW 'Tarali Project' falls in the 'eco-sensitive zone' of the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. The State Wildlife Board had asked to deposit 4% of the project cost for conservation. The company's COO submitted a notarized affidavit on September 8, citing “analogous estimation.” But, in the February 2025 approval letter from the Environment Ministry, the cost of the project has been put at Rs 5,675 crore.

The most surprising thing that has come out in the report is that the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state accepted the revised cost on October 12 and asked the NBWL (National Board for Wildlife) to consider it. Adani has deposited 1% of the revised cost i.e. Rs 56.75 lakh; The remaining amount will be deposited after getting the approval of NBWL. Following a complaint by a wildlife warden, the central government on November 6 ordered a priority investigation into the matter. On November 5, the deputy director of the Koyna sanctuary was asked to investigate, and the state forest department has also started investigating the matter.

Read :- Congress leader Pawan Kheda targeted CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, said – changed the tender process on the basis of rules and handed over the work to Adani.

However, Adani Group says that no forest land is involved in the project and its operation will not have any adverse impact on the environment or wildlife of the downstream areas. The company did not give a clear answer to a question asked about the revised cost of the project. Wildlife Warden Rohan Bhate says that a project of such a large size cannot be built in such a low budget.

Congress and AAP surrounded the government

After this report came out, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of benefiting Adani Group. Congress said on social media platform X, “Another fraud of Modi's friend Adani has come to light… Adani Green Energy has got the work of a hydro power project in Satara, Maharashtra. This project falls in the area of ​​'Sahyadri Tiger Reserve'. According to the rules of the Forest Department, the company setting up a project in such an area has to deposit 4% of the project cost for wildlife conservation. Adani had earlier stated the cost of his hydro power project to be Rs 5675 crore. According to this, Adani had to deposit 4% amount in the account of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, which is Rs 227 crore. But… Adani made a mistake here. “A scam of crores was committed by inserting one decimal (.) in the cost of the project.”

The country's largest opposition party further said, “Adani's company told the Forest Department – the cost of our project is not Rs 5675 crore, it is only Rs 56.75 crore. In such a situation, 4% of Rs 56.75 crore became only Rs 2.27 crore. It is amazing that the Forest Department accepted this and in the files the cost of the hydro power project was reduced to only Rs 56.75 crore. Yes, Adani will be the only one in the world who It means that by manipulating the cost of the project, Adani saved about Rs 225 crore and the forest department is also supporting Adani in this fraud. Modi-Adani duo has caused a lot of loss to the country. While sharing this report, Aam Aadmi Party said on Twitter, “Modi ji's best friend Adani did another trick, Maharashtra Forest Department was kind!”

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