Mahayuti used its power to push corporate cronies’ interests ahead people’s: Jairam Ramesh

Congress general secretary in-charge (communications) Jairam Ramesh
| Photo Credit: File Photo

The Congress on Sunday (October 27, 2024) accused the ruling coalition government in Maharashtra of “brazen manipulation” of legal processes to push corporate cronies’ interests ahead of the well-being of the State’s people and forests.

Congress general secretary in-charge (communications) Jairam Ramesh alleged that environment clearance for the ₹7,000-crore Patgaon Pumped Storage Project of the Adani Green Energy Limited was issued without holding public meetings and by selective interpretation of the rules.

Protests in Kolhapur

Detailing the sequence, Mr. Ramesh in a post on X said that in November 2023 a major adviser to Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) was appointed to an Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Centre that approves proposals for hydroelectricity projects, like those made by AGEL. Soon after, in December 2023, the residents of more than 100 villages in Kolhapur rose up in protest against AGEL’s ₹7,000-crore Patgaon Pumped Storage Project, he said.

“Since Kolhapur has been struggling with low rainfall and limited availability of water and no public meetings were held before the project was granted permission. Locals are concerned about the impact it would have on the worsening water situation,” he averred and added, “this is just one of three Adani projects that have received approval in ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats.”

‘Selective interpretation of law’

According to experts, Environment Ministry officials have “selectively interpreted the law” to allow these “red category” projects in sensitive areas, the Congress leader said. Adani’s own environmental evaluations had warned of significant damage to forests during construction but the projects were approved anyway, Mr. Ramesh claimed.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Mahayuti’s brazen manipulation of the legal process clearly has severe repercussions for local communities and the local environment. It is telling that the Mahayuti has used its stint in power to push corporate cronies’ interests ahead of the wellbeing of Maharashtra’s people and forests,” Mr. Ramesh alleged.

The remarks of the Congress leader came ahead of the polling for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly on November 20. The votes will be counted on November 23, a day before the current Assembly completes its term.