Chhatisgarh Bachao Andolan | 10 Jan 2024

Why in News?

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) in Chhattisgarh has extended its support to the proposed citizens' protest march in Hasdeo Arand against the large-scale cutting of trees for coal mining.

  • Hasdeo Arand forests are considered bio-diversity rich, with the catchment area of Hasdeo River providing crucial help for drinking water in underdeveloped areas.

Key Points

  • The deforestation of 137 hectares of biodiverse forest in Hasdeo for the Parsa East and Kanta Basan (PEKB) coal blocks in Chhattisgarh will have detrimental effects. This includes impacting the river Hasdeo, escalating human-elephant conflicts, and causing negative consequences for the local biodiversity.
  • A total of five billion tonnes of coal is estimated to be sitting under the dense forest area.
    • The latest deforestation marks the second stage of clearances for PEKB; the first stage included sanctioning of the open mine for coal extraction to supply electricity in Rajasthan and neighbouring state.
  • The ongoing deforestation will displace and impact the livelihoods of 700 indigenous families from neighbouring villages in Surguja district of northern Chhattisgarh such as Sahli, Tara, Janardhanpur, Ghatbarra, Fatehpur and Hariharpur.
  • Tribal rights activists from Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Save Hasdeo Forest Committee as well as Gram Sabha leaders have been actively protesting the relentless tree felling.
  • Mining Activity in Hasdeo Arand Coal Field (HACF) Region:
    • The HACF is spread over nearly 1,880 sq km and comprises 23 coal blocks.
    • The area was declared as a ‘No-Go Zone’ for mining by the Centre in 2009.
    • The demand for mining picked up around 2010, when the Chhattisgarh government recommended forest clearance for diverting forest land for PEKB coal fields.
    • In 2012, Forest Clearance was granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) for mining in phase I of PEKB coal mines.
    • Though cases are pending in various courts, in March 2022 the Chhattisgarh government approved the second phase of mining in the PEKB coal block.

Hasdeo Arand Forest

  • Hasdeo Arand, a sprawling forest in the northern part of Chhattisgarh is known for its biodiversity and its coal deposits.
  • The forest falls under Korba, Sujapur and Surguja districts with significant tribal population.
  • The Hasdeo river, a tributary of Mahanadi, flows through it.
  • Hasdeo Arand is the largest un-fragmented forest in Central India consisting of pristine Sal (Shorea robusta) and teak forests.
  • It is a noted migratory corridor and has a significant presence of elephants.