Fri Apr 18 16:52:17 UTC 2025: ## Thackeray Accuses Maharashtra Government of Ignoring Climate Crisis
**Mumbai, April 18, 2025** – Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Aditya Thackeray today launched a scathing attack on the Mahayuti government, accusing it of prioritizing development over environmental protection and exacerbating the climate crisis in Maharashtra. Thackeray, a former State Environment Minister, claimed the government is “destroying jungles and the environment” under the guise of development, jeopardizing the monsoon and intensifying the effects of climate change.
He specifically criticized the approval of the Gargai dam project in Palghar, stating that the project’s need for the removal of nearly five lakh trees to provide 450 MLD of water to Mumbai is environmentally reckless. Thackeray called the project a “money game” that prioritizes short-term gains over long-term environmental sustainability.
Thackeray linked the state’s record-breaking April temperatures, exceeding 40°C in some areas, to the government’s inaction on climate change. He further blamed the BJP-led administration for Mumbai’s ongoing water crisis, claiming that the government lacks both a plan and the will to address the issue. He highlighted the detention of Shiv Sena workers who protested the water shortage.
Thackeray emphasized his party’s commitment to environmental protection, stating, “We are against destruction, not development.” His accusations come as increasing concerns about the environmental impact of development projects and the escalating effects of climate change are gaining traction in Maharashtra.
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