Decode Politics: A change of govt, and return of Hasdeo Aranya tribal protests in Chhattisgarh

The possible cutting down of swathes of the dense, biodiversity-richHasdeo Aranya forest in Chhattisgarh’s tribal-dominated Surguja district has resurfaced as a political flashpoint ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

On Sunday, state Congress chief Deepak Baij joined the protests being held by tribals against the cutting of trees. Taking on Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, he taunted that the BJP was using Sai’s tribal identity to camouflage its “intent” of helping Adani Enterprises, which owns the Parsa East and Kente Basan (PEKB) coal fields spread over 1,898 hectares of forest land. As part of Phase 1 of the exercise, mining in 762 hectares is completed. Mining in PEKB Phase 2 is underway in the remaining 1,136 hectares.

Baij challenged Sai to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop the clearing of the forest, which local tribals consider sacred.

What is the conflict about?

The PEKB coal block is owned by Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited and run by Adani Enterprises, which is the official Mine Developer and Operator in this venture.

The current flashpoint has arisen as activists want the Parsa coal block cancelled. They also want an assurance that the 1,995 sq km Lemru Reserve Forest, notification for which was passed in 2021, will not be touched. Already, 40 coal blocks (31 inside and 9 adjoining the reserve) have been cancelled by the Union Coal Ministry, on the request of the previous Congress state government.

The activists spearheading the protests point out that Hasdeo Aranya is the “lung of the state”, and its destruction would cause irreparable damage to the environment, tribal life and wildlife, especially worsening the human-elephant conflict. The Lemru Elephant Corridor falls within the area to be