The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) strongly demands an urgent cessation of coal mining by the Adani Group in the Hasdeo forests of Chhattisgarh, urging both the central and state governments to take immediate action. The party emphasized that Hasdeo Jungle is listed under the 5th Schedule of the constitution, mandating the necessity of obtaining NOCs from local ‘Gram Sabhas’ for any mining activities. Despite this, it is crucial to note that the Adani Group has proceeded with mining without obtaining the required permissions from the Gram Sabhas, a matter of significant concern.
Senior AAP leader and MLA Kuldeep Kumar revealed that when Gram Sabhas refused to give NOCs, Adani Group fabricated them. Meanwhile, AAP’s Chhattisgarh State Secretary Priyanka Shukla stated that despite opposition from 20 Gram Sabhas, mining continues. In 2021, the Governor ordered an inquiry into the fake NOCs of the Gram Sabha related to mining, but no investigation took place. The central government institution, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), also stated in its report that if mining occurs in the Hasdeo jungles, there will be significant adverse consequences.
In a joint press conference at the party headquarters on Monday, AAP senior leader and MLA Kuldeep Kumar and AAP Chhattisgarh State Secretary Priyanka Shukla expressed concerns.
MLA Kuldeep Kumar stated, “The BJP-led central government is granting all resources, including jungles, mines, airports, and ports, to Adani. The BJP Government has given access to the vast and dense Hasdeo Jungle in Chhattisgarh to Adani for coal extraction. The cutting of trees in Hasdeo Jungle is underway for coal mining, while the 5th Schedule of the Constitution clearly states that if forests are cut or coal is extracted anywhere in the country, obtaining permission from the local Gram Sabha is mandatory.”
“In the case of Hasdeo Jungle in Chhattisgarh, a fake NOC from the Gram Sabha has been submitted. In opposition, the tribal people of the Gram Sabha have initiated a campaign to save the jungle and the environment. The Adivasi (tribal) brothers and sisters of Chhattisgarh are fighting to preserve their forests, while the entire government is interested in cutting down these jungles to benefit a big industrialist. The BJP-led central government aims to destroy the environment and wildlife of the country, seeking financial gain only from industrialists.
During this period, AAP Chhattisgarh State Secretary Priyanka Shukla mentioned, “People usually think this is Chhattisgarh’s fight, but it is not just Chhattisgarh’s, it is the entire country’s battle. Today, there is a crisis of climate change across the country and the world. It is said that Prime Minister Modi has no friends, so he talks about the country, but nepotism is prevailing throughout the country. This nepotism is dominating Chhattisgarh today, and efforts are being made to ruin Chhattisgarh. The people of Hasdeo Jungle have been fighting this battle for a decade. Hasdeo Jungle is an area with dense forests in central India. Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are states with dense forests in the country. In Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo Jungle, not just one or two, but more than 4 lakh trees will be cut. Over the past year, more than 50,000 trees have already been felled.”
The AAP Chhattisgarh State Secretary explained that Hasdeo Jungle falls under the 5th Schedule. The Gram Sabha here is a government institution. The Gram Sabha, through a proposal, imposed a ban on mining in Hasdeo Jungle, stating that obtaining permission is necessary before any such activity. Despite opposition to mining from 20 Gram Sabhas in Hasdeo Jungle, mining is still taking place without Gram Sabha’s approval, benefiting Adani. To stop mining, the people from Gram Sabha submitted a memorandum to the Governor. In 2021, Governor Anusuiya Uikey imposed a stay and ordered an inquiry into the matter, yet no investigation took place.
“Following the Supreme Court’s orders, a study of the Hasdeo Jungle was conducted. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), working under the central government, clearly stated in its joint study report that mining should not be conducted here. If mining occurs, it will have severe consequences, escalating conflicts between elephants and humans, as forests will be diminished. After opposition from tribal communities, the Governor, Gram Sabha, and WII, the Modi government is still working to benefit Adani. Meanwhile, when the BJP was in opposition in Chhattisgarh, they criticized the state government. Now, with BJP in power, instead of taking action, they blame the previous government for the situation in Hasdeo Jungle,” she added.
AAP Chhattisgarh State Secretary Priyanka Shukla shared that on July 26, 2022, the then government passed a resolution in the assembly. In this resolution, MLA Dharmjeet Singh from Lormi seat successfully moved a motion with unanimous agreement, stating that the mining activities in Hasdeo forests would be canceled. Today, Dharmjeet Singh is a member of the BJP. Although the bill was unanimously passed in the assembly, it was not implemented. The people of the country should know what is happening in Chhattisgarh and how the people of Chhattisgarh are struggling to save the forests. When they struggle, FIRs are filed against them.
“Often, the BJP talks about religion and faith. In the Hasdeo forests of Chhattisgarh, Hindus live, and they also have their faith. The tribal community worships nature, performing rituals for water, forest, and land. Boodha Dev is considered the deity of the local community, and the forest is their sacred place. People there also worship Lord Rama. The same forests where Lord Rama spent 14 years in exile, the BJP is cutting down today. The AAP appeals to the central and Chhattisgarh governments to immediately stop mining in Hasdeo forests. There is also an appeal to the people of the country to go and see the current situation of Hasdeo forests,” the AAP Chhattisgarh State Secretary concluded.
