Caught in crossfire: How the People of Hasdeo Arand are stuck between development and Political Stunt?

New Delhi: Roughly around 220 Km from the Raipur airport, as one wades through the journey to Hasdeo Arand Coal Mines there are signs of rich biodiversity, newly built colonies, new roads, schools etc. along with local populace’ aspirations to development in the form of education, employment, and better living standards as a result of prosperity due to working coal mines which also parallelly fulfill the energy security of India. As one moves
further, various activists and NGOs along with some political parties like Congress could be seen holding banners of “Save Hasdeo” against the operationalization of coal blocks.

Hasdeo Arand coalfield is in northern Chhattisgarh and comprises of 23 coal mines. One of these coal mines, PEKB, was allocated to RVUNL in the year 2007 and has been in operation since 2013 in the ruling congress Govt. back then. Currently Adani Group is working as a Mine Developer and Operator for the coal mines. A battleground of development proponents vs Politics!!! During a recent visit to Chhattisgarh as part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stopped at Morga Basti and met with some politically sponsored NGOs (as per locals) like Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (HABSS), some 15 km from the protest site in line with declaring a no go for coal mining in this region for election
manifesto.

In a public address shortly, he alleged that the Adanis are everywhere in this place and the Government transferring its ports, airports, infrastructure etc. to Adani. Through this campaign, Rahul Gandhi also tries to fulfill his political motives while winning the sentiments of local people by instilling in them a fear of loss of their biodiversity and settle political scores. Is congress backflipping? PEKB block was allotted in 2007 to RUVNL while Congress was at center with Manmohan Singh as its Prime Minister. In fact, the mining prospects of the block were identified much earlier during the congress rules in 1980s.

During Congress-led coalition rule between 2004 and 2014, no policies were framed or executed which talked about the biodiversity or the actual demands of local Adivasis who were deprived of any benefits for their livelihoods.The real issues of the Adivasis are both the conservation of forests as well as growth through education and employment. Rahul Gandhi, through the support of sponsored NGOs seems to cash-in-on the fear of locals and showcasing them the films of a deforested region with no food, water, and livelihood and decimation of ancestors’ heartland. The targeting of single coal block out of around 53 coal blocks in Chhattisgarh raises suspicions and the foul-smelling political intention of Congress in this area.

Also, the association of Congress with HABSS raises eyebrows as the same NGO protested congress when in April 2022, The Congress state government approved the Parsa coal block for mining – which is adjacent to the PEKB mine, and to be operated by the Adani Group for coalpower generation in Rajasthan – and commenced tree felling.

In fact, Congress suffered a heavy electoral defeat in Hasdeo in the December 2023 state election, losing every legislative assembly seat in the Adivasi majority region which had long been a bastion for the party. In fact, the job opportunities provided by Adani group in this region, around 5000 could have been created during congress regime too helping real development of populace. Clearly congress seems to misunderstand the real issues of
Adivasis and is just reciting the old song of conserving forests and manipulating Adivasis for own political gains.

Locals supporting the political drama?
“We support the Coal mines project but oppose Alok Shukla, who instigates the locals by bringing outsiders here. We request the Collector to start the mines. If it is not started, we will go to Raipur and request the government. We need employment here.” says the deputy mining in this region for election manifesto.

In a public address shortly, he alleged that the Adanis are everywhere in this place and the Government transferring its ports, airports, infrastructure etc. to Adani. Through this campaign, Rahul Gandhi also tries to fulfill his political motives while winning the sentiments of local people by instilling in them a fear of loss of their biodiversity and settle political scores.

Is congress backflipping?

PEKB block was allotted in 2007 to RUVNL  while Congress was at center with Manmohan Singh as its Prime Minister. In fact, the mining prospects of the block were identified much earlier during the congress rules in 1980s.

During Congress-led coalition rule between 2004 and 2014, no policies were framed or executed which talked about the biodiversity or the actual demands of local Adivasis who were deprived of any benefits for their livelihoods.

The real issues of the Adivasis are both the conservation of forests as well as growth through education and employment. Rahul Gandhi, through the support of sponsored NGOs seems to cash-in-on the fear of locals and showcasing them the films of a deforested region with no food, water, and livelihood and decimation of ancestors’ heartland. The targeting of single coal block out of around 53 coal blocks in Chhattisgarh raises suspicions
and the foul-smelling political intention of Congress in this area.

Also, the association of Congress with HABSS raises eyebrows as the same NGO protested congress when in April 2022, the Congress state government approved the Parsa coal block for mining – which is adjacent to the PEKB mine, and to be operated by the Adani Group for coal power generation in Rajasthan and commenced tree felling.

In fact, Congress suffered a heavy electoral defeat in Hasdeo in the December 2023 state election, losing every legislative assembly seat in the Adivasi majority region which had long been a bastion for the party. In fact, the job opportunities provided by Adani group in this region, around 5000 could have been created during congress regime too helping real development of populace. Clearly congress seems to misunderstand the real issues of Adivasis and is just reciting the old song of conserving forests and manipulating Adivasis for own political gains.

The statements of Rahul Gandhi against the operationalization of mines is another great example of contradictory ethos of congress which have earlier been trying to be advocate of energy security of country by allocating coal blocks.

Locals supporting the political drama?
“We support the Coal mines project but oppose Alok Shukla, who instigates the locals by bringing outsiders here. We request the Collector to start the mines. If it is not started, we will go to Raipur and request the government. We need employment here.” says the deputy. In fact, the approvals of various statutory clearances for PEKB in Hasdeo Arand coalfield has been granted during congress regime on thorough investigation by MOEF&CC and the then environment Minister. The block lies on the brink of Hasdeo Arand in the areas of thin vegetation region and is apt for mining.

The Adani Chaos
Originally owned by RUVNL, the entity, Adani group is working as MDO for this block which was auctioned through competitive bidding by quoting the lowest price. The industry giant has since been through coal mining contributing to coal requirements of Rajasthan for energy generation (roughly 50 % of electricity requirement) through RUVNL power plants e.g., Chhabra, Kalisindh, Suratgadh etc. while parallelly also helping in development of locals.

RUVNL pays more than Rs 1000 cr. as royalty, service tax etc. to Chhattisgarh State Govt. annually. In fact, PEKB alone has paid around Rs 7000 Cr. to state Govt. via various taxations and charges till date. The entity has planted around 11.5 lakhs ,trees on the reclaimed land and paid the Forest department compensation amount in lieu of 40 lakhs trees! The claims of Rahul Gandhi that the entityi.e., Adani working there is destroying livelihood and biodiversity for commercial benefits is very much ridiculous as well as pointing question mark on all the auction process, Statutory clearances providing bodies, locals etc. The Group invests about 2% of its total profit in various CSR initiatives through mining in this region for election manifesto.

In a public address shortly, he alleged that the Adanis are everywhere in this place and the Government transferring its ports, airports, infrastructure etc. to Adani. Through this campaign, Rahul Gandhi also tries to fulfill his political motives while winning the sentiments of local people by instilling in them a fear of loss of their biodiversity and settle political scores.

Is congress backflipping?
PEKB block was allotted in 2007 to RUVNL while Congress was at center with Manmohan Singh as its Prime Minister. In fact, the mining prospects of the block were identified much earlier during the congress rules in 1980s. During Congress-led coalition rule between 2004 and 2014, no policies were framed or executed which talked about the biodiversity or the actual demands of local Adivasis who were deprived of any benefits for their livelihoods. The real issues of the Adivasis are both the conservation of forests as well as growth through education and employment. Rahul Gandhi, through the support of sponsored NGOs seems to cash-in-on the fear of locals and showcasing them the films of a deforested region with no food,
water, and livelihood and decimation of ancestors’ heartland. The targeting of single coal block out of around 53 coal Sarpanch of Parsa Village who looks worried due to the ongoing protests. “During the Covid pandemic, it was the mine companies which stood with us and not these outsiders,” he further added. Many villagers have already applied in the collector’s office for resumption of coal – mine activities. The villagers who were getting quality education, health, livelihood, and many other facilities earlier are now suffering due to the non operationalization of these coal blocks.

During the recent acquiring of around 150 ha of land, 821 landowners have been paid and are already supporting the project. Fact Check- Development of coal block. The coal block was allotted to RVUNL in 2007 while Congress was at center. The approval to cutting of forests was also
granted in 2022 by the same Congress Govt. which is now protesting the tree felling. The political ballet of Chhattisgarh trees once sacrificed for progress by Congress now stand as symbols of biodiversity under BJP. As corporate interests clash with newfound environmentalism, NGOs wield activism like a double-edged axe in this forest of contradictions where congress dance to the tune of power and make industrialists like Adani group and local people suffer most while parallelly also making industries the scapegoat. During the entire 10 years of operationalization of coal block, out of 83000 trees cut, around 43000 trees (~52%) have been cut during congress regime.

In fact, the approvals of various statutory clearances for PEKB in Hasdeo Arand coalfield has been granted during congress regime on thorough investigation by MOEF&CC and the then environment Minister. The block lies on the brink of Hasdeo Arand in the areas of thin vegetation region and is apt for mining.

The Adani Chaos

Originally owned by RUVNL, the entity, Adani group is working as MDO for this block which was auctioned through competitive bidding by quoting the lowest price. The industry giant has since been through coal mining contributing to coal requirements of Rajasthan for energy generation (roughly 50 % of electricity requirement) through RUVNL power plants e.g., Chhabra, Kalisindh, Suratgadh etc. while parallelly also helping in development of locals.

RUVNL pays more than Rs 1000 cr. as royalty, service tax etc. to Chhattisgarh State Govt. annually. In fact, PEKB alone has paid around Rs 7000 Cr. to state Govt. via various taxations and charges till date. The entity has planted around 11.5 lakhs trees on the reclaimed land and paid the Forest department compensation amount in lieu of 40 lakhs trees! The claims of Rahul Gandhi that the entity i.e., Adani working there is destroying
livelihood and biodiversity for commercial benefits is very much ridiculous as well as pointing question mark on all the auction process, Statutory clearances providing bodies, locals etc. The Group invests about 2% of its total profit in various CSR initiatives through Sarpanch of Parsa Village who looks worried due to the ongoing protests. “During the Covid pandemic, it was the mine companies which stood with us and not these outsiders,” he further added. Many villagers have already applied in the collector’s office for resumption of coal – mine activities. The villagers who were getting quality education, health, livelihood, and many other facilities earlier are now suffering due to the non operationalization of these coal blocks.

During the recent acquiring of around 150 ha of land, 821 landowners have been paid and are already supporting the project.

Fact Check- Development of coal block

The coal block was allotted to RVUNL in 2007 while Congress was at center. The approval to cutting of forests was also granted in 2022 by the same Congress Govt. which is now protesting the tree felling. The political ballet of Chhattisgarh trees once sacrificed for progress by Congress now stand as symbols of biodiversity under BJP. As corporate interests clash with newfound environmentalism, NGOs wield activism like a double-edged axe in this forest of contradictions where congress dance to the tune of power and make industrialists like Adani group and local people suffer most while parallelly also making industries the scapegoat. During the entire 10 years of operationalization of coal block, out of 83000 trees cut, around 43000 trees (~52%) have been cut during congress regime.

Conclusion While the stance of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi agenda seems to help the Adivasis, however it exposes the real problems of Adivasis who are hung between the false promises of congress and real development. The real problem of PEKB is growth and better opportunity, livelihood,
and infrastructure along with conservation of natural resources. While at one place entities like Adani is providing immense opportunities through various CSR initiatives, jobs, schools etc. while at same time doing afforestation to restore vegetation, the presence of biodiversity in nearby coal mines has provided an arena of politicization for the congress party to zero-in-on to and play with sentiments of people along with NGOs and projecting the toxic environmentalism.