In a significant ruling on 2 July 2019, a single bench of the Calcutta High Court observed that the process adopted by the West Bengal government to acquire land for the 1,000-megawatt Turga Pumped Storage Project (TPSP) violated the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA). The court had earlier stayed the project in August 2018.

The TPSP hydroelectric power project was proposed in 2017 for the storage and generation of electricity. The project required 292 hectares of forest land. The state Cabinet has already approved the project cost of Rs 6,921.90 crore. Of this, Rs 5,000 crore will be loaned by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, with which the state signed an agreement on 2 November 2018.

According to a report, the project could have likely caused the destruction of three lakh trees and put the livelihood of the residents of many nearby villages at stake. Local people-led Ajodhya Buru Bachao Andolan Samhati Mancha organised meetings in 2019 to assemble villagers, environmental activists, lawyers and civil society members to fight for the issue. According to the villagers, they did not give their consent for the project, which is mandatory as per the Forest Rights Act, 2006. At the same time, "in-principal" approval was issued without taking the process into consideration (see the court case attached).

The company reportedly has two more projects in the pipeline, slated to come up on Bandu and Kanthaljola rivers. The villager's lawyer, Santanu Chakraborty, said that while they may have won this case, the state is likely to counter appeal and, therefore, they need to be prepared for what's coming next.

In July 2019, the state government challenged the high court order before a division bench. On 23 December 2021, a division bench of Calcutta High Court pronounced its final judgment in M.A.T 1156 of 2019 and M.A.T 1396 of 2019. The court held that the writ petition was premature as the issue of consent of Gram Sabhas is still open for scrutiny by the Central government before grant of final clearance and should be examined at the appropriate level. That on the above ground among others, the bench set aside the decision of the Single Bench dated 2 July 2019.

On 13 October 2022, the MoEFCC granted final clearance based on the compliance report filed by state government in 12 April 2018 but on 19 conditions, which were forwarded by the Governor of West Bengal stating that stage II clearance is subject to fulfilment of these conditions. The recognition of forest rights as per the FRA was among the 19 conditions.

Two Gram Sabhas - Baruajara Badhghutu Dulgubera and Ranga Barelhor - filed their claims for IFR and CFR titles on 24 May 2023 and 22 August 23, respectively. Between May and June of 2023, the DFO released tenders for works related to the Turga project, thus violating the order for completion of FRA process before embarking on any work. Meanwhile, the villagers did not received any information and the District Administration, Forest Department or the state electricity department officials held no Gram Sabha meetings.

Meanwhile, the villages passed a unanimous resolution that they do not want the Turga PSP to be constructed in the forest and non-forest land managed by the community during a Gram Sabha held in Baruajara, Bandhghutu, Dulgubera of Baghmundi Panchayat on 26 May 2023.

In July 2023, the Gram Sabhas in a letter requested MoEFCC to take necessary action against the non-compliance of the conditions stipulated in the forest clearance and place on hold all 24 proceedings related to issue of tenders and other project activity on the ground as long as such irregularities are not resolved.

The grievances of the Gram Sabhas were forwarded by authorities—such as Special Secretary to Secretary, Department of Power (West Bengal) and letter from Assistant Commissioner for Reservation to Special Secretary, Tribal Development Department (West Bengal) and a letter from the Under Secretary, MoTA, FRA Division to Principal Secretary, Government of West Bengal—clearly stating that it was the responsibility of the state government to implement FRA and requesting the state government to take necessary action and send an action taken report to the Ministry. However, no communication or action took place from the concerned authorities.

On 4 April 2024, a villager from one of the Gram Sabhas, Barelhor-Ranga, filed a case at the NGT flagging the non-compliance of the FRA condition. Following which, the NGT passed a ruling on 31 May 2024 asking the concerned respondents to file affidavits. As of January 2025, the WBSEDCL had filed the affidavit and the Tribal Development Department, Government of West Bengal, stated that the affidavit has been prepared. The next hearing is on 7 April 2025.