Hasdeo under siege: Forests, tribes and the fight against corporate coal

The Hasdeo Arand forest in Chhattisgarh, often revered as the “lungs of central India”, is a biodiverse and culturally vital region now under siege.

On July 7, 2025, the Chhattisgarh forest department recommended diverting 1,742.6 hectares of dense forest land for the Kente Extension coal block, allocated to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL), with Adani Enterprises as the mine operator.

This decision, uploaded to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) website, has sparked fierce protests from tribal communities, environmental activists and opposition leaders.

The recommendation, based on a 26 June 2025 inspection by the Surguja Divisional Forest Officer, is accused of bypassing Gram Sabha authority, violating ecological norms, and prioritising corporate interests over the livelihoods of millions of tribal and traditional forest dwellers.

As the proposal awaits MoEFCC approval, the battle for Hasdeo underscores a broader conflict between development, indigenous rights and India’s environmental commitments.

Silencing the forest’s guardians

The forest department’s push to clear Hasdeo’s forests for coal mining is a direct affront to the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), a cornerstone of tribal empowerment in India’s Fifth Schedule areas. Enacted to ensure self-governance in tribal regions, PESA grants Gram Sabhas — village councils comprising all adult members — significant authority over natural resources.

Under Section 4 (e) of PESA, Gram Sabhas have the power to approve or reject development projects, manage community resources like forests, and safeguard cultural identity. This is reinforced by the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006, which recognises Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights, empowering tribal communities to sustainably manage forests and protect them from destructive projects.

In Hasdeo, however, the forest department’s recommendation for the Kente Extension coal block is accused of trampling these legal protections. The Chhattisgarh State Scheduled Tribes Commission (CGSTC) recently uncovered irregularities in the clearance process for the adjacent Parsa coal block, including forged Gram Sabha consents and instances of coercion against tribal leaders.

Similar concerns surround the Kente Extension, with activists alleging that the forest department has bypassed mandatory consultations with Gram Sabhas in villages such as Salhi, Hariharpur and Fatehpur. The department’s justification, rooted in the Working Plan Code 2023, claims the need for “scientific forest management.” Critics argue this is a pretext to override PESA and FRA, undermining the democratic process that empowers tribal communities to protect their forests.

Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan has condemned the forest department’s actions, stating, “This recommendation violates PESA and FRA by sidelining Gram Sabha consent, effectively silencing the very communities who have stewarded Hasdeo for generations.”

The 2022 Chhattisgarh Assembly resolution, which unanimously called for cancelling all coal blocks in Hasdeo, further highlights the disconnect between the forest department’s actions and the state’s stated commitment to tribal welfare.

By prioritising mining approvals, the department appears to be eroding the legal framework designed to protect tribal autonomy, raising questions about its accountability and motives.

Whose forest, whose future?

The forest department’s recommendation raises a critical question: whose interests are being served — those of corporations or the tribal communities whose survival depends on Hasdeo? The Kente Extension coal block is part of the 1,879.6 square kilometres Hasdeo Arand coalfield, estimated to hold 5.179 billion tonnes of coal.

Allocated to RRVUNL, with Adani Enterprises as the mine developer and operator, the project targets 1,742 hectares of dense forest — 99 per cent of the block’s area — in the Chornai River catchment, a vital lifeline for water security and biodiversity.

Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, leading the opposition Congress, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government of betraying its environmental pledges. “The BJP’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign is a mockery when they plan to fell 600,000 trees to benefit corporate interests,” Baghel declared, pointing to the hypocrisy of a government that once championed afforestation.

Baghel argued that the existing Parsa East and Kente Basan (PEKB) mine, already operational in Hasdeo, contains 350 million tonnes of coal — enough to meet Rajasthan’s power needs for two decades. This renders the Kente Extension project unnecessary, suggesting that corporate profit, rather than public need, drives the forest clearance.

Hasdeo’s ecological significance cannot be overstated: It supports 640 floral species, 128 medicinal plants, 92 bird species and endangered wildlife like elephants, sloth bears and leopards. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has warned that mining in Hasdeo could exacerbate human-elephant conflicts, already a growing issue and disrupt critical wildlife corridors.

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) emphasises the forest’s hydrological role, irrigating 300,000 hectares of farmland through the Hasdeo River and Hasdeo Bango Dam.

Environmental groups such as Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti have labelled the recommendation a “blatant violation” of ecological and legal norms. They argue that the forest department’s reliance on the Working Plan Code 2023, intended to promote sustainable forest management, is a misapplication that prioritises coal extraction over the livelihoods of tribal communities.

For the Gond, Oraon and other tribes, Hasdeo is not just a forest but a source of food, medicine and cultural identity. The proposed felling of 600,000 trees threatens their survival, displacing communities and destroying resources they have depended on for generations.

India’s ecological, indigenous commitments at risk

The Hasdeo controversy exposes India’s struggle to uphold its commitments under international laws protecting biodiversity and indigenous rights. As a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), India is obligated to conserve ecologically sensitive areas and ensure sustainable resource use.

The Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework emphasise protecting biodiversity hotspots like Hasdeo, which hosts a rich ecosystem critical for regional and global conservation goals. Mining in Hasdeo directly contradicts these commitments, threatening endangered species and habitats.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) mandates free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) from indigenous communities for projects affecting their lands. The alleged forging of Gram Sabha consents and coercion in Hasdeo violates this principle, undermining the rights of tribal communities who have lived in harmony with the forest for centuries.

Similarly, India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement include reducing carbon emissions and creating a 2.5-3 billion tonne carbon sink through afforestation. The proposed deforestation of Hasdeo, a critical carbon sink, runs counter to these goals, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbating climate change.

The Ramsar Convention, while not directly applicable to Hasdeo, underscores the importance of protecting wetlands for water security. Hasdeo’s role as the catchment area for the Hasdeo River and Hasdeo Bango Dam aligns with these principles, yet mining threatens to disrupt the region’s hydrological balance, affecting millions who rely on its water for agriculture and drinking.

India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement further commit to sustainable development, but the forest department’s actions suggest a prioritisation of short-term economic gains over long-term ecological and social sustainability.

Protests and the fight for Hasdeo’s soul

The forest department’s recommendation has ignited a wave of resistance across Hasdeo. On 17 October 2024, protests in villages like Salhi, Hariharpur and Fatehpur turned violent, with reports of police lathi charges and detentions, highlighting the human cost of the project. The Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has demanded the immediate cancellation of forest clearances and criminal action against officials and companies involved in alleged irregularities, including document forgery and coercion.

The forest’s designation as a “no-go” area in 2009, later overturned, reflects a recurring pattern of prioritising coal mining over ecological and cultural preservation.

For tribal communities, Hasdeo is more than a forest — it is a cultural and spiritual lifeline. Sacred groves, traditional practices and livelihoods tied to forest resources are at risk, threatening the identity of the Gond, Oraon and other tribes. The forest department’s alignment with corporate interests, particularly Adani Enterprises, contrasts sharply with the 2022 Chhattisgarh Assembly resolution, which called for protecting Hasdeo by cancelling all coal blocks. The involvement of Adani, a major player in India’s mining and energy sectors, fuels allegations of cronyism, with critics arguing that the forest department is serving corporate agendas at the expense of tribal communities and ecological integrity.

The broader implications of the Hasdeo crisis extend beyond Chhattisgarh. The region’s role as a biodiversity hotspot and carbon sink makes it a critical piece of India’s environmental strategy. The forest department’s actions undermine not only local communities but also India’s global reputation as a leader in climate action and indigenous rights.

Activists have called for a moratorium on mining in Hasdeo, citing the WII’s recommendation to prohibit such activities and the ICFRE’s warnings about hydrological impacts. The ongoing protests reflect a growing movement to protect Hasdeo, with tribal leaders, environmentalists and opposition figures uniting to demand accountability.

What lies ahead for Hasdeo?

As the Kente Extension recommendation awaits MoEFCC approval, the battle for Hasdeo represents a pivotal moment for India’s environmental and social justice landscape. Will the government uphold the legal protections of PESA and FRA, honouring the rights of tribal communities to manage their forests? Or will corporate interests prevail, sacrificing a biodiverse ecosystem and the livelihoods of millions for coal?

The forest department’s actions, cloaked in the language of “scientific forest management”, have exposed a systemic failure to prioritise ecological and cultural preservation over economic gain.

The Hasdeo crisis is a microcosm of the global struggle between development and sustainability. India’s commitments to the CBD, UNDRIP, Paris Agreement and Ramsar Convention demand a re-evaluation of projects like Kente Extension. Protecting Hasdeo requires not only halting forest clearances but also strengthening Gram Sabha authority, ensuring transparency in environmental approvals, and holding corporations accountable for violations.

For the tribal communities of Hasdeo, the forest is not just a resource — it is their home, their heritage, and their future. The fight to save Hasdeo is a fight for justice, sustainability, and the soul of India’s forests.

Final summary: The Hasdeo Arand forest in Chhattisgarh, known as the 'lungs of central India', faces a critical threat from proposed coal mining, sparking protests from tribal communities and environmental activists. The forest department's recommendation to divert 1,742.6 hectares for mining has been accused of bypassing legal protections and prioritising corporate interests over ecological and cultural preservation, raising significant concerns about indigenous rights and environmental commitments.