Villagers Clash With Police Over Tree-Felling In Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo Forests (image-X/LicypriyaK)
The villages of the Hasdeo forests in Chhattisgarh have once again erupted in protests against deforestation. A clash broke out between the tribal community and the state police when the former tried to stop the authorities from felling trees and the police pushed back.
Several villagers, 13 police officers, and others sustained injuries during the incident, reported the Indian Express. The police, however, denied claims of triggering violence by a police lathi charge and instead accused the villagers of initiating the attack.
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Protests have been recurrent in the state with rising demands to cancel the Parsa coal mine project, which endangers the Hasdeo forests, known as the lungs of Chhattisgarh.
The Parsa East Kanta Basan (PEKB) coal mines were allotted to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (RRVNL) by the Ministry of Coal. The company gave the contract to the Adani Group. The PEKB coal mine is owned by the Rajasthan government and has been operated by an Adani Group since 2013.
As per reports, the government plans to clear 5,000 trees in an area in Surguja district, part of the PEKB project.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called the BJP government’s attempt to “forcibly take away tribal forests and land through the violent use of police force in Hasdeo Aranya is a violation of the fundamental rights of tribals.”
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He further highlighted that during the Congress rule in the state, a proposal to not cut the Hasdeo forest was passed unanimously in the assembly, including the consent of then opposition BJP. “The ‘anti-Bahujan BJP’ is ready to cause terrible harm to the common citizens and the environment for the sake of its own and its friends’ interests. Today, in BJP-ruled states across the country, tribal rights are being constantly attacked through similar tactics and conspiracies,” stated Gandhi in an X post.
हसदेव अरण्य में पुलिस बल के हिंसक प्रयोग से आदिवासियों के जंगल और ज़मीन के जबरन गबन का प्रयास आदिवासियों के मौलिक अधिकार का हनन है।
छत्तीसगढ़ में कांग्रेस की सरकार के दौरान विधानसभा में सर्वसम्मति से हसदेव के जंगल को न काटने का प्रस्ताव पारित हुआ था – ‘सर्वसम्मति’ मतलब विपक्ष…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 17, 2024
AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi also expressed solidarity with the protesters and said, “The tribals, who have been the owners of the forests for centuries, are being evicted so that Adani ji’s mines can operate.”
The Hasdeo Aranya Forest
Spread over 1,70,000 hectares of land (much larger than Delhi), the Hasdeo Aranya forest is home to a significant number of tribal populations whose livelihoods depend on the resources the forest offers. Additionally, the forest cover is home to rare plants and endangered animals.
It also holds coal reserves of 5,179.35 million tonnes. The government has divided the region into 23 “coal blocks,” six of which have been approved for mining. Led by billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani, the Adani Group bagged four of the six projects.
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While in the past, over 90 percent of India’s coal was mined by government-owned firms, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, private companies, especially Adani, have been taking over.
Several people and activists accused the central government of prioritising corporate interests over environmental conservation and tribal rights. Many pointed out the destruction of the green cover, especially during a climate crisis.
