Union Minister of Tribal Affairs V Kishore Chandra Deo lamented the Madhya Pradesh Government on the issue of Forest Rights Act violation. Deo in a meeting with a delegation of Mahan Sangharsh Samiti (MSS) and Greenpeace activists on Friday said that such violations are a criminal offense and he will get it investigated.
Deo had also written a letter to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on June 7, listing the events that led to gross violation of the Forest Rights Act. The letter highlights that not a single community forest right has been implemented in the area, including holding a free and fair Gram Sabha. This, despite the villagers writing to authorities indicating that they have both individual and community claims in the area.
The Samiti, includes members from five villages in Mahan region, who have been opposing the proposed mine of Mahan Coal ltd.
“Granting of forest clearance to Mahan coal block is a blatant violation of legal requirement of FRA and the requirement for consent of Gram Sabha before commencement of mining activity. There is also a strong misgiving among the tribals and affected people of there being a strong nexus between the said company and the local authorities in the region, which is leading to large scale violation of forest rights,” said Deo.
This meeting with the minister coming on the heels of the historic Niyamgiri Gram Sabha further strengthened MSS’ demands for implementation of Forest Rights Act to decide on the fate of the forests they have been dependant on for generations.This puts into question the second stage clearance for Mahan coal block, which has been awarded Stage I clearance, along with 36 conditions, which includes implementation of Forest rights Act.
This violation has led to a growing resentment among the villagers from 62 villages, who have been dependant on the forests for generations. The MSS is right now in the process of broad basing the ongoing fight to all these villages which will also be impacted by the coal mine.“We have been dependant on the Mahan forests for generations collecting a variety of forest produce, which is a very significant source of our livelihood. Now the company (Mahan Coal ltd) says that these forests belong to them and we have no rights there,” says Bechanlal, member of MSS and a resident of Amelia village.
Allowing mining in Mahan would open the doors to other coal blocks as well said Priya Pillai, Senior Campaigner, Greenpeace India.