Pre-mining work in Hasdeo’s 3 new mines halts

In the wake of protests by tribals which were backed by Chhattisgarh Minister T.S. Singh Deo, the Surguja district administration has halted pre-mining work in three upcoming coal mine projects allotted to the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RRVUNL) in the Hasdeo Aranya forest.

Singh Deo on June 6 had visited Ghatbarra and Hariharpur in Hasdeo Aranya in support of the agitating locals.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel declared the next day said if Singh Deo did not want trees to be cut down for coal mine projects, then not a single branch will be chopped.

Confirming the government’s decision to put the projects on hold, Surguja Collector Sanjeev Jha told the media: “The three upcoming projects – Parsa, Parsa East and Kete Basan (PEKB) phase II and Kete Extension coal mines — are at different stages of pre-mining process.”

He said that all “the processes have been put on hold till further orders”.

“Without the consent of the local public representative, the process will not be taken up further. We have cancelled the gram sabha proposed on June 8 for rehabilitation and resettlement for PEKB phase II project-affected villagers.

“Similarly, the public hearing scheduled on June 13 for the Kete extension block for environment clearance has also been cancelled. Besides the legal procedures, the tree felling exercise for PEKB phase II mine and Parsa block has also been halted,” he added.

The three mines were allotted to RRVUNL. The Adani group is associated with it as MDO (mine developer and operator), Jha said.

The operational mines in the region will, however, continue to function, the official said.

The state government had recently granted final approval for felling of trees on forest land for Parsa mine and PEKB phase II mine coal projects.