Chhattisgarh

• 07 Nov 2024

Irregularities in Hasdeo Mining Clearance

Why in News?

The Chhattisgarh State Scheduled Tribe Commission (CSSTC) has identified irregularities in the environmental clearance process for the Parsa coal mine located in Surguja, Chhattisgarh.

• CSSTC has recommended the revocation of forest clearance for this mining project, situated in Hasdeo, a biodiversity-rich region.

Key Points

• About CSSTC:
  • The Chhattisgarh government formed the Tribal Advisory Council to recommend policies related to Scheduled Tribes.
    • Some of the tribes in Chhattisgarh include the Gonds of Bastar, Baiga tribes, Pahari korwa tribes, Abhuj Maria, BisonHorn Maria, Muria, Halbaa, birhors tribes, Bhatra, and Dhurvaa.
  • The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh is the Chairman of the Council, and the Minister of Tribal and Scheduled Caste Development Department is a member.
• Findings of the CSSTC:
  • Irregularities in Environmental Clearance: The Commission discovered that the environmental clearance for the Parsa coal mine, mandated to be obtained only with gram sabha consent, was secured using forged documents.
  • Alleged Misuse of District Administration: The Commission’s letter stated that the mining company allegedly manipulated district officers and employees to obtain environmental clearance and permission for forest land diversion for the coal mine.
    • The Commission highlighted that such actions infringe on the rights of gram sabhas, recognised as autonomous entities under the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
  • Complaint from Tribal Villages: The Commission’s investigation was prompted by a complaint in 2021 from 41 residents of Salhi, Hariharpur, and Fatepur villages, alleging that forged gram sabha documents had been used for the project.
• Demand for Cancellation and Legal Action:
  • Following the CSSTC report, the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA), which leads anti-mining protests in Hasdeo, called for the cancellation of the mine’s forest and environmental clearances.

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.

New Industrial Policy 2024-30

Why in News?

The Chhattisgarh government approved ‘New Industrial Policy 2024-30: Incentives for Industries’ that will seek to promote sectors ranging from food processing to IT and IT-enabled services.

Key Points

• New Industrial Policy Provisions:
  • The new industrial policy introduces several incentives to promote investment, such as, Interest subsidy, Capital cost subsidy, Stamp duty and Electricity duty exemption, Value-added tax (VAT) reimbursement.
  • Additional Subsidies and Exemptions are:
    • Mandi duty exemption
    • Employment subsidies for employing persons with disabilities (Divyang)
    • Subsidies for environmental projects
    • Transport subsidies
    • Reimbursement of net State Goods and Services Tax (SGST)
  • The policy places strong emphasis on generating employment opportunities within the state.
• Investment Promotion in Nava Raipur (Atal Nagar):
  • Allocation of land at concessional rates for IT, healthcare, and educational institutions were announced as special provisions for Strategic Development to boost investment and job creation in Nava Raipur (Atal Nagar).
• Revival of the Mukhyamantri Tirth Darshan Yojana:
  • The Mukhyamantri Tirth Darshan Yojana, which was suspended in 2019, will be reintroduced. The scheme provides free travel to religious sites outside the state for eligible groups:
    • Senior citizens aged 60 and above
    • Differently-abled individuals
    • Widows and abandoned women
• Implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:
  • The Cabinet has decided to implement the NEP 2020 in the state, aiming to provide students with a modern, flexible, and high-quality education system.
  • Additional resources will be allocated to enhance research and innovation, with a focus on building a more skilled workforce to meet industry needs.