Hasdeo Arand: Tree Felling Begins Amid Protests in Surguja

Tree felling for coal mining in the biodiverse Hasdeo Arand region of Surguja, Chhattisgarh, commenced under police protection, sparking protests and allegations of activist detentions. The Opposition raised concerns in the Assembly, accusing the government of favoring industrialist Gautam Adani.

In a controversial move, tree felling has commenced for the Parsa East and Kete Basan PEKB phase-2 extension coal mines in the ecologically sensitive Hasdeo Arand region of Chhattisgarh's Surguja district. The commencement of tree felling was met with strong opposition from activists and local residents, who allege that police detained those protesting against coal mining in the area.

Opposition Raises Concerns in State Assembly

The Opposition Congress party raised the issue in the state Assembly, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of favoring industrialist Gautam Adani. Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant expressed concerns about the impact of coal mining on the region and the displacement of tribal communities. He highlighted that the previous government had passed a resolution to protect the Hasdeo area from mining activities, and urged the current government to uphold this resolution.

Local Administration Claims Necessary Permissions

The local administration maintains that it has obtained all the necessary permissions to proceed with tree felling. District administration officials stated that the state government had granted permission for non-forestry use of over 1,136 hectares of forest land for the PEKKB phase-II mine in Surguja, which was allotted to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL) last year. The first phase of mining in the area began in 2013 and has been completed.

Protests and Opposition from Local Villagers

Local villagers under the banner of Hasdeo Arand Bachao Sangharsh Samiti have been protesting against the allotment of these mines for several years. They argue that the gram sabhas have not given their consent for coal mining in the area, and that the Chhattisgarh Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution in July 2021 to prohibit mining activities in Hasdeo. Despite these objections, the state government has proceeded with tree felling under heavy police security.

Activists Detained, Concerns Raised

Alok Shukla, Convener of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA), which has been at the forefront of the protest against coal mine allotment, expressed strong condemnation of the government's actions. He alleged that activists and members of Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, including the sarpanch of Ghatbarra, were detained by the police to facilitate the tree felling. Shukla also raised concerns about the interception of himself and another activist by unidentified individuals while they were heading towards Hasdeo.

The commencement of tree felling for coal mines in the Hasdeo Arand region has sparked widespread outrage and concern among activists, local residents, and opposition parties. The issue highlights the ongoing conflict between environmental conservation and industrial development in India. The government's decision to proceed with tree felling despite strong opposition raises questions about its commitment to protecting ecologically sensitive areas and respecting the rights of local communities.