Adani Green Energy denies Tarali PSP cost-revision allegations in Maharashtra
Synopsis
Adani Green Energy has pushed back firmly against allegations that it doctored project cost figures for its 1,500-MW Tarali pumped storage project in Maharashtra to escape statutory obligations — insisting the disputed figure of ₹56.75 crore covered only site investigation costs, while the total project cost of ₹5,675 crore was duly placed before the State Board for Wildlife.
Key Takeaways
Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) denied allegations of deliberately lowering the declared cost of the Tarali pumped storage project (PSP) in Maharashtra on 13 November 2026 .
The company clarified that ₹56.75 crore cited in the forest/wildlife portal reflected only site investigation costs — roughly 1% of the total project cost.
The State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) was provided the full project cost of ₹5,675 crore , according to the company.
AGEL maintained the project sits on private, non-forest land , 3.2 km from the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary , outside the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve buffer zone and all notified ESZs.
The company rejected allegations that the revision was intended to reduce conservation-related costs, calling them 'false.'
Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) on Friday, 13 November 2026, vehemently rejected allegations that it deliberately lowered the declared cost of the 1,500-MW Tarali pumped storage project (PSP) in Maharashtra to reduce statutory obligations, calling the claims 'completely misleading.'
What the Allegations Claimed
Reports had alleged that AGEL revised the declared cost of the Tarali pumped storage project downward — a move critics said was intended to lower conservation-related costs and diminish the company's obligations under environmental and wildlife statutes. The project has drawn scrutiny given its proximity to protected ecological zones in Maharashtra.
What Adani Green Energy Said
A company spokesperson clarified that the figures cited in the online proposal on the forest and wildlife portal pertained exclusively to site investigation costs, not the full project cost. The State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), according to the spokesperson, considered the total project cost at ₹5,675 crore.
'Since site investigation costs are around 1 per cent of project costs, therefore clarification of the project ₹56.75 crore representing solely the site investigations and survey costs, for the online proposal was provided,' the spokesperson said.
The company further denied that any downward revision was motivated by a desire to reduce conservation costs, describing that allegation as 'false.'
Project Location and Environmental Status
AGEL stated that the Tarali PSP is situated entirely on private, non-forest land and lies 3.2 kilometres away from the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. The company added that the project falls outside the notified buffer zone of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve and does not impact any tiger corridor or notified Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).
'The project does not cause diversion of any protected areas, any reserve forest or notified ESZ,' the spokesperson explained, reinforcing that statutory obligations under wildlife protection frameworks are not triggered by the project's location or design.
Broader Context
The controversy comes at a time when large-scale renewable energy infrastructure projects in India, particularly pumped storage schemes, are facing heightened scrutiny over their environmental footprint. AGEL is one of India's largest renewable energy developers, and the Tarali PSP is among its marquee storage projects. Pumped storage projects are considered critical to India's grid stability as solar and wind capacity scales up, but they frequently intersect with ecologically sensitive geographies, drawing regulatory and civil society attention.
Point of View
That the ₹56.75 crore figure represents the standard 1% earmarked for surveys, is technically plausible, but the absence of clear labelling on the portal submission is what gave the allegation traction. What this episode underlines is a systemic gap in how large renewable energy developers communicate multi-stage cost data to multiple regulatory bodies — a gap that invites misreading, whether intentional or not. With India scaling up pumped storage aggressively, robust, standardised disclosure norms could prevent similar controversies from clouding otherwise policy-compliant projects.
NationPress
14 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tarali pumped storage project (PSP) and who is developing it?
The Tarali pumped storage project is a 1,500-MW pumped hydro energy storage project located in Maharashtra , being developed by Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) . Pumped storage projects store surplus electricity by pumping water uphill and releasing it to generate power when needed, making them critical to grid stability.
What were the allegations against Adani Green Energy over the Tarali project cost?
Reports alleged that AGEL reduced the declared cost of the Tarali PSP to lower its statutory and conservation-related obligations under Indian environmental and wildlife laws. The company has categorically denied these allegations, calling them 'completely misleading' and 'false.'
How does Adani Green Energy explain the difference in the project cost figures?
AGEL clarified that the lower figure of ₹56.75 crore submitted on the forest and wildlife portal represented only site investigation and survey costs — approximately 1% of the total project cost. The full project cost of ₹5,675 crore was separately provided to the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) .
Does the Tarali PSP fall within any protected wildlife or forest zone?
According to AGEL , the Tarali PSP is built entirely on private, non-forest land and is located 3.2 kilometres from the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary . The company states it lies outside the notified buffer zone of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve and no protected area, reserve forest, or Eco-Sensitive Zone is affected by the project.
Why do pumped storage projects often face environmental scrutiny in India?
Pumped storage projects typically require large water bodies and elevation differentials, which often place them near ecologically sensitive areas such as wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves, or Eco-Sensitive Zones. As India rapidly scales up renewable energy, regulators and civil society groups have increased scrutiny of such projects to ensure statutory environmental protections are not bypassed.
