Maharashtra Forest Officials Question Adani Green Over Tarali Project Cost Revision

The Maharashtra Forest Department has asked Adani Green Energy Ltd to explain why it changed the declared cost of the Tarali pumped storage project in Satara from ₹5,675 crore to ₹56.75 crore. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests M Srinivas Reddy said the department has not accepted the new estimate and is waiting for a reply with supporting documents.

Company Response And Location

Adani Green Energy stated that the lower figure of ₹56.75 crore only covered site survey and investigation expenses, which make up about one percent of the total project. The company maintained that the overall cost is still ₹5,675 crore, and rejected claims that the change was meant to lower conservation payments. The firm added that the 1,500 MW project is built entirely on private, non-forest land located 3.2 kilometres away from the Koyna wildlife sanctuary, and does not enter any tiger corridor or eco-sensitive zone.

Investigation And Criticism

The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change told the state forest department on November 6 to look into the matter urgently. The ministry's environmental clearance on February 11, 2025, noted the project cost as ₹5,675 crore, but a notarised affidavit given to the state forest department on September 8, 2026, used the ₹56.75 crore figure based on an analogous estimation. Rohan Bhate, honorary wildlife warden of Satara, stated that such a big change raises serious doubts about the legal validity and financial details of the undertaking.

Context

Large industrial and energy projects require various environmental clearances and statutory approvals from state and central forest authorities before they can move forward. When project costs or details change in official filings, regulatory bodies often investigate to ensure all compliance requirements and environmental duties are met properly.