Chhattisgarh Tribals Stage Sit-In Against Mining Project
For weeks, tribal communities in Chhattisgarh have been engaged in a sit-in protest against a proposed mining project that threatens their ancestral lands and livelihoods. The demonstration highlights the ongoing conflict between development imperatives and the rights of indigenous populations in resource-rich regions of India.
The focal point of the unrest is the Hasdeo Aranya forest, a densely forested area spanning 170,000 hectares in North Chhattisgarh. Known as the "Lungs of Chhattisgarh," this ecologically significant zone is one of the largest intact forest areas in central India and a crucial biodiversity hotspot. It also holds substantial coal reserves, attracting the interest of mining corporations.
The current dispute centers around the Parsa East Kente Basan (PEKB) mining project, an expansion of existing coal mining operations controlled by Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam and operated by the Adani Group. The project has triggered widespread opposition due to its potential environmental and social consequences. Protesters claim that the expansion could lead to the felling of between 250,000 and 800,000 trees, massive displacement of local tribal communities, and long-term environmental damage.
The protesting tribal communities, including members of the Gond, Oraon, Lohar, and Kunwar tribes, assert that the mining project violates their constitutional rights and disregards legal provisions requiring their consent. They allege that the government has bypassed the mandatory consultation process with Gram Sabhas (village councils) and obtained consent through coercion and deceit. According to India's Constitution and the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA), explicit consent from local self-governing bodies is required for mining projects in Scheduled Areas.
The protests have been ongoing for years, with tribal communities and forest-dwellers employing various methods to voice their concerns. In 2021, hundreds of people marched 300 kilometers to the state capital, Raipur, demanding the cancellation of coal mining projects in the Hasdeo Aranya region. Despite these efforts, the project has continued to advance, with the government granting further permissions for mining operations.
The situation escalated recently when scores of protesters were reportedly attacked and injured by police during demonstrations against the felling of trees in the Hasdeo Aranya forest. Activists and organizations like the Chhattisgarh Kisan Sabha condemned the police action and the deforestation, asserting that both the state and central governments are prioritizing the interests of corporations over the rights and livelihoods of tribal communities.
The conflict in Chhattisgarh highlights the complex challenges of balancing economic development with environmental protection and social justice. The tribal communities' ongoing sit-in protest underscores their determination to protect their ancestral lands, forests, and cultural heritage from the perceived threat of destructive mining activities. The situation remains tense, with the future of the Hasdeo Aranya forest and the rights of its indigenous inhabitants hanging in the balance.
