Congress slams Union Govt over mining approval inside Hasdeo forest
The Congress on Sunday criticised the Modi Government over the approval of a coal mining venture in Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo-Arand forest, alleging that the BJP’s “trouble-engine regime” is determined to see the project through, whatever the cost to ‘Adivasi jal-jangal-zameen’ and the ecosystem.
The Opposition party’s attack comes days after the proposal for coal mining in Chhattisgarh’s pristine Hasdeo-Arand forest, which will require the cutting of lakhs of trees, has obtained a key approval from the Environment Ministry’s forest advisory committee (FAC).
The mining is planned to take place in the Surguja district’s Kente Extension Opencast Coal Block, which is being developed by the Adani group.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the Modi Government has given approval to coal mining by “Modani” in Chhattisgarh’s Kente Extension Opencast Coal Block, 98 per cent of which falls under Hasdeo Aranya’s pristine sal forests.
This will result in indiscriminate felling of at least 7 lakh trees, Ramesh said on social media.
It will also be an existential threat to biological diversity, including leopards, sloth-bears, and the national heritage animal of India, elephants, Ramesh claimed.
He further said it would result in increased human-animal conflict since the coal block is just 3.6 km from the Lemru elephant corridor.
Ramesh argued that it will also have an adverse impact on water flows in the Hasdeo River and the Bango dam since the forests serve as their catchment area.
On January 26, 2022, the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress Government had passed a resolution in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly that no mining leases should be granted in Hasdeo Aranya, Ramesh recalled.
