Amid the ongoing resistance against mining in the region, villagers of the Hasdeo Aranya forest in Chhattisgarh have now alleged that their land was acquired illegally. The area, which falls in Surguja district and spans over 1,70,000 hectares of rich biodiversity, has been coveted by the Adani Group for coal mining. The forests have not been listed as a protected area – a conservation reserve or a wildlife sanctuary – giving corporates a chance to stake their claim in the region.
Thirty coal blocks have been identified by the Indian government in the Hasdeo Aranya forest with five billion tonnes of coal lying beneath the forests. The Adani Group’s website lists seven coal mines and two iron-ore mines in Chhattisgarh for which the group is the ‘mine developer and operator’ (MDO), making it the nation’s biggest private mine developer.
The Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangarsh Samiti has alleged that the land of 32 villagers, who hold Individual Forest Rights (IFR) (or claims of property over the forest land as they reside there), has been taken away by the Adani Group by getting tribal farmers to sign on notary affidavits.
From these 32 farmers, Naval Singh and 15 others were asked to sign on an affidavit while they were given a cheque for the land.
After these instances surfaced, the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and the Chhattisgarh Forest Rights Forum have complained to the Chief Minister about it, following which an investigation was initiated.
— source newsclick.in | 07 Sep 2020