GS Paper - III
The Hasdeo forest in Chhattisgarh saw villagers clash with the police, after tree-felling for mining of coal resumed in the green belt. Two police personnel, part of the security cover provided to forest officials, sustained arrow injuries, and 10 tribal people were booked for attempt to murder and rioting by the Sarguja police.
What is the Hasdeo Arand forest?
- The Hasdeo Arand is referred to as the “lungs of Chhattisgarh”, with a wealth of biodiversity.
- According to the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Hasdeo Arand is the “largest un-fragmented forests in Central India consisting of pristine Sal (Shorea robusta) and teak forests.”
- The Hasdeo-Arand Coalfield (HAC) covers an area of 1,879.6 sqkm, spanning three districts of Sarguja, Korba and Surajpur, in the northern tribal belt of Chhattisgarh.
- As per a 2021 report by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), nine species in HAC have special protection under schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- These include Elephant, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Indian Grey Wolf, Honey Badger, Four-Horned Antelope, Indian Pangolin, Giant squirrel, and Rusty spotted cat.
- There are 92 species of birds in Hasdeo and 25 different mammals, 16 types of snakes. Its also a habitat as well as a corridor for elephants and a corridor for tigers.
- According to the ICFRE in 2021, there are 640 floral species, 128 medicinal plants and 40 timber-yielding species of plants.
What is the significance of Hasdeo in terms of mining?
- So far, 23 coal blocks have been identified that cover an area of 437.72 sq.km, about 25% of the HAC.
- Seven coal blocks have been auctioned: PEKB, Parsa, Kente Extension, Tara, Paturiya Gidmuri, Chotia, Madanpur South. However, the Paturiya Gidmuri, Madanpur South and Tara coal blocks have been surrendered to the Union coal ministry by the former state government.
- PEKB (phase 1 and 2), Parsa and Kente extension coal blocks have been allotted to the Rajasthan government i.e., the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL), and the mining contract is with Adani Enterprises limited.
Why has mining been opposed in Hasdeo?
- Locals say the mining will destroy their villages, the forest cover around them, and hit their livelihood, which depends completely on farming and forest produce.
- Some villagers are also unhappy with the compensation and resettlement offer made by the government, which moves them into smaller houses than they currently have.
- The villagers have also alleged that fake gram sabha resolution documents from Salhi and Hariharpur Gramsabhas were used to secure forest and environment clearance for the Parsa Coal Block.
- Further, a fake gram sabha was conducted in Ghatbarra for land acquisition for Phase II of the PEKB coal block, they claim.