Villagers protest re-allotment of coal mines in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Over a hundred villagers from Hasdeo-Arand coalfields in north Chhattisgarh today staged a protest in Korba district opposing re-allotment of coal mines in the region.

"Coal mining in Hasdeo-Arand region will not only destroy its forest canopy, adivasi culture, livelihood of forest dwellers, but also adversely affect the Hasdeo-Bango dam, which is a major source of irrigation in the region," Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan's (CBA) convener Alok Shukla told PTI.

Residents of nearly 20 villages of Korba and Surguja districts today gathered at the Korba district headquarters under the banner of Hasdeo-Arand Bachao Samiti and CBA to raise their voices against coal mining in the region that is rich with bio-diversity, he added.

In January, as many as 18 gram sabhas (village councils) of Hasdeo-Arand coalfields had unanimously passed a resolution opposing the re-allotment of coal mines and written letters to the higher authorities seeking discussion on the issue.

However, despite that the Centre went ahead and allotted five blocks in the region, which is a violation of rights of gram sabha as these forests are Schedule-V areas under the Constitution, where the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006, are applicable, he said.

"Without the consent of the gram sabhas they should not allocate any blocks. But they did. Now villagers have decided not to allow any mining activity in their villages and forests," he added.

Meanwhile, villagers also submitted a memorandum to Korba Collector seeking to pay heed to their demands. The coal blocks, which have been allocated are Gidmudhi, Paturia, Parsa, Parsa East and Kete Basan.