News Highlight
Chhattisgarh Assembly has passed a resolution urging the Centre to cancel allocation of all coal mining blocks in the Hasdeo Aranya region.
Background
- The Hasdeo Aranya forests are called the lungs of Chhattisgarh.
- Over the past one year, protests against mining in this region have erupted several times and some still continue to sit-in demanding a complete stop to mining.
- Amidst this, Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly passed a private member resolution urging the Centre to cancel allocation of all coal mining blocks in the ecologically sensitive area.
What is a private member resolution?
- A private member is any member of parliament (MP) or State legislature who is not a Minister (executive).
- Bill introduced by such a non-government member is known as the Private Members’ bill.
- A private member resolution can be brought in by a private member and if passed, it becomes an expression of what the House thinks.
- This is different from a private member bill which would become law in case of approval.
What is the importance of the Hasdeo-Aranya region?
- This is a highly biodiverse and ecologically fragile forest in the Korba, Surguja, andSurajpur districts of Chhattisgarh.
- The Hasdeo Aranya lies in the catchment area of the Hasdeo river and is spread across 1,878 sq km in North-Central Chhattisgarh.
- The Hasdeo is a tributary of the Mahanadi river, which originates in Chhattisgarh and flows through Odisha into the Bay of Bengal.
- The Hasdeo forests are also the catchment area for the Hasdeo Bango Dam built across the Hasdeo river
- Which irrigates six lakh acres of land, crucial to a State with paddy as its main crop.
- Thousands of sal, mahua and tendu trees abound this country’s largest contiguous stretch of forest.
- It is also part of an elephant corridor that stretches up to the Gumla district in Jharkhand.
What is the mining status of the Hasdeo Aranya region?
- Underneath the Hasdeo Aranya is a coalfield that comprises 22 coal blocks.
- In 2010, the Centre categorised Hasdeo Aranya as a “no-go” zone for mining.
- 2010, the Chhattisgarh government recommended forest clearance to divert forest land for the Parsa East and Kente Basan (PEKB) coalfields.
- However, only a year later, the MoEF granted clearance for the mining.
- In 2012, Forest Clearance was given by the MoEF for mining in phase I of PEKB coal mines.
- Though cases are pending in various courts, in March 2022, the Chhattisgarh government approved the second phase of mining in the PEKB coal block.
- At present, of the 22 blocks, seven blocks have been allotted to different companies.
What are the possible consequences of mining in this region?
- According to the studies by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), mining will
- Affect the biodiversity in the region
- Aggravate the issue of human-elephant conflicts because it is an elephant corridor
- Lead to habitat loss or clearing of forests
- Impact on society in the form of loss of livelihood, identity and culture as 90% of households depend on agriculture and forest products.
- Further, marginalise the Tribal people
Pic Courtesy: The Hindu
Content Source: The Hindu