Hasdeo forest : Issue of Coal Mining

News Highlights

The government of Chhattisgarh is embroiled in a debate over coal mining in the Hasdeo forest.

About Hasdeo forest 

• Location: forest in the northern part of Chhattisgarh is known for its biodiversity and its coal deposits.
• Forest falls under Korba, Sujapur and Sarguja districts with sizeable tribal population
•  The Hasdeo river, a tributary of Mahanadi, flows through it.
• It is a noted migratory corridor and has a significant presence of elephants.

Hasdeo Arand Coal Field (HACF) Mining Activity in the Region

• Hasdeo Arand Coal Field (HACF) is spread over nearly 1,880 sq km and comprises 23 coal blocks. 
  • Phase 1 of Mining: 
    • The demand for mining picked up around 2010, when the Chhattisgarh government recommended forest clearance for diverting forest land for Parsa East and Kente Basan (PEKB) coal fields.
    • June 2011, the Forest Advisory Committee of the Environment ministry recommended against diverting the forest land for mining
    • The then Environment minister overruled this decision, saying coal mining will be done in an area away from the dense forests.
    • In 2012, Forest Clearance was granted by the MoEF for mining in phase I of PEKB coal mines
  • Phase 2 of Mining:
    • March 2022 the Chhattisgarh government approved the second phase of mining in PEKB coal block.

Environmental impacts by Mining

• Two studies by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have come out. 
• Both have underlined the importance of biodiversity in the region that mining will undoubtedly affect. 
• Issue of human-elephant conflicts
  • noting that while Chhattisgarh has less elephants compared to other states, it accounts for a significant percentage of conflict due to habitat loss or clearing of forests. 
  • Further deforestation could lead to elephant movements spilling over to urban areas, these studies have noted.

• The ICFRE also noted the loss of the natural environment and the “serious impact on the community in form of loss of livelihood, identity, and culture” with regards to tribal people living in the area, if mining were to be allowed. 
• It further said that the PEKB block was a “habitat to rare, endangered and threatened flora and fauna”.

Pic Courtesy: India Today

Content Source – Indian Express