In Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo Forests, Ministry’s Green Nod for Coal Mining in Kente Block
Context
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted environmental clearance (EC) for coal mining in the Kente Extension Block of the Hasdeo-Arand forests in Chhattisgarh, reigniting concerns over biodiversity conservation, forest protection, and the ecological impacts of mining.
Issue
- The Kente Extension Integrated Coal Block has received environmental clearance for an open-cast coal mining project with a proposed production capacity of 9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
- Hasdeo-Arand is among the largest contiguous forest landscapes in Central India, known for its dense forests, rich biodiversity, critical wildlife habitats, and important elephant corridors.
- The project will require the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) of affected villages, raising concerns over the livelihoods and rights of forest-dependent and tribal communities.
- The approval underscores the challenge of balancing India’s growing energy demand with commitments to forest conservation, climate action, and sustainable development.
- The decision has revived discussions on the need for cumulative environmental impact assessments, ecological carrying capacity studies, and enhanced protection of ecologically sensitive landscapes.
Key Concepts
Environmental Clearance (EC):
A statutory approval granted to development projects after evaluating their environmental impacts under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) framework.
Habitat Fragmentation:
The division of large, continuous natural habitats into smaller, isolated patches, resulting in reduced biodiversity and disruption of wildlife movement and ecological processes.