Amid controversy over allotment of iron ore block no 13 in Bailadila to Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), Minister for Forest, Housing and Environment Mohammad Akbar refuted the charges that the permission to chop the trees in the block was given by the Congress government.
While talking to media persons here on Monday afternoon, Akbar citing the orders rejected the charges of Janta Congress Chhattisgarh President Amit Jogi that the Congress government provided the letter of intent and granted the permission for felling of trees in the sacred hillock which the tribals consider as natural deity.
“It was the erstwhile BJP government and not the Congress government which granted permission for felling of trees in the sacred hillock”, he said.
Akbar said, “The permission was granted by the erstwhile BJP government and I have sought the files and necessary action would be taken into the matter after going through it”
Citing the orders, the minister informed that on request of Raman government the Center had granted permission for felling of 25,400 trees in the said hillock on November 25, 2018.