Former Chhattisgarh CM Baghel backs villagers protesting against tree felling for coal mine

Raigarh, Jul 3 (PTI) Senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday visited Tamnar tehsil in Raigarh district and extended his support to local villagers who are opposing tree felling for a coal mine project.

Tree cutting started in a forested area between Mudagaon and Saritola villages last week to facilitate the operation of the Gare Palma Sector II coal block.

The mine has been allotted to the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO), which has given the `MDO' (mine developer cum operator) contract to the Adani group.

Baghel, along with more than 20 MLAs and Congress workers, visited Tamnar and met the villagers who have been agitating against the tree felling, a party statement said.

"A race is underway to hand over the state's water, forest, land and mineral wealth to Adani. Tree felling started without the permission of the local Gram Sabha. The protesting tribals have been saying that they are being tortured. The state government wants to hand over the coal mines to Adani by suppressing the rights of the tribals," Baghel alleged.

After the formation of the BJP government (in December 2023), the state has started handing over coal mines under the pressure of the national leadership of the BJP, the former CM claimed, noting that earlier, indiscriminate cutting of forests for a coal mine was witnessed in Hasdeo Arand region.

The Chhattisgarh Assembly had passed a resolution in July 2022 during the Congress rule that mining activities will not be carried out in Hasdeo area, and sent it to the Centre seeking cancellation of all coal mines in the region, he said.

But after the BJP came to power in the state, the cutting of trees has started from Hasdeo to Tamnar, he alleged. PTI COR TKP KRK