Forest Cleared Without Consent, Chhattisgarh Adivasis Protest
Hundreds of police and forest officials felled thousands of trees to clear over 200 acres of dense forest land Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district on June 26 and 27 for a coal mining project linked to Adani Power. The operation took place without consultation with local Adivasi/tribal residents, which raises serious concerns over violations of forest rights laws and the sidelining of due procedures.
Chhattisgarh Activist Announced ‘Green Nobel’ Winner for Saving Forest
Alok Shukla, the 43-year-old convener of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA), will receive the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize, recognised globally as the Green Nobel. This honor celebrates his leadership in grassroots movements that has thwarted the establishment of 21 coal mines, safeguarding 445,000 acres of biodiverse forest.
Chhattisgarh’s Forests at Risk; Over 15,000 Trees Cut
The situation in Chhattisgarh, where the Union and state governments have approved the second phase of mining operations in the Hasdeo Arand forest, highlights a significant conflict between economic development and environmental conservation. This decision has led to the cutting of over 15,000 trees, adding to the 81,000 trees felled since 2012 for coal mining purposes, according to the media outlet Article 14.
India’s Environmental Policy at a Crossroads
The Supreme Court of India has put a hold on environmental clearances previously granted by the environment ministry to mining companies that had commenced operations without the requisite environmental clearance, casting a spotlight on the country’s environmental governance, which must strike a balance between industrial interests and the imperative of environmental protection.
Why Govt’s Violent Crackdown on Tribal Protesters Is Alarming
In the dense forests of Maharashtra on November 20, police dismantled a protest site where Adivasi communities had been demonstrating against proposed iron-ore mines. In this act, the government also disrupted the delicate balance between state authority and citizen rights in a democracy.