Deforestation charges derail House as Congress presses Hasdeo issue

Raipur: Triggering a massive uproar in the Assembly for the second day running, the opposition Congress, on Tuesday, accused the ruling BJP of illegal and large-scale deforestation, as well as holding fake Gram Sabhas (village council meetings) to clear coal mining projects in the Hasdeo and Tamnar regions. Treasury strongly denied the allegations, triggering a bedlam in the House, suspension of Congress members, and the revocation thereof within moments by the Speaker.The Congress, led by Leader of Opposition Charandas Mahant, moved an adjournment motion during the Zero Hour, alleging that the state govt permitted widespread deforestation in Hasdeo and Tamnar and pushed through coal mining projects by conducting fraudulent Gram Sabhas, in violation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives. It also alleged harassment and a crackdown on protesting villagers and public representatives in the affected areas. Congress members sought a debate on what they alleged was an ‘unprecedented destruction' of forests and wildlife in Hasdeo, Tamnar, Bastar, and other regions under the present government. They claimed lakhs of trees had been felled and Gram Sabhas manipulated to clear the projects.Minister denies chargesResponding to the serious charges levelled by the Congress, state forest and climate change minister Kedar Kashyap said the incumbent government under CM Sai prioritises forests, wildlife, tribals, and the environment, and is working relentlessly for their conservation. Invoking a report by the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, Kashyap, said forest cover in Chhattisgarh has increased by 94.75 sq km, while the area under trees outside forest land has increased by 702 sq km, which is the highest in the country. The minister added that the State approved five mining cases involving the diversion of 1,300.869 hectares of forest land under the Forest Conservation Act over the last two years. He refuted allegations of fake public hearings, lathi-charge (baton charge) on protesters, and blockades in the Surguja, Hasdeo Aranya coalfield, Tamnar, and Bastar regions, asserting that forest land diversion received approval from the Centre as per rules.Tamnar & Hasdeo ChargesMinister Kashyap denied large-scale felling of trees on forest and revenue land in the Tamnar area of Raigarh district, saying that the correct position is that two cases approved under the Forest Conservation Act in Tamnar involved felling 6,650 trees in accordance with the rules.Gram Sabhas in the Tamnar area of Raigarh district were held as per rules for mining cases, the minister said, adding that Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO) received approval from the Union government on Jan 27, 2023 for the diversion of a total 214.869 hectares of forest land for the Gare Pelma Sector–2 coal mines, affecting 18 villages in Tamnar. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Production) granted permission on 19 Feb 2025 to axe 3,684 trees after the forest land diversion was approved, the minister informed, adding that only 1,124 trees were cut.Kashyap said that the government action did not violate the FRA, public hearings, or standing NGT orders.Unconvinced Congress storm wellUnconvinced by the Minister's explanation, Congress members persisted with their claims of illegal deforestation, violation of FRA and NGT orders, and police action against villagers and public representatives. They stormed into the Well of the House, raising slogans against the government over alleged forest land diversion and fake Gram Sabhas in Hasdeo and Tamnar.The Speaker, citing rules of procedure, disallowed the adjournment motion after the minister's stout of the Opposition's charges. Naming the Opposition members who had entered the Well, the Speaker, following established practice, announced their suspension. However, the suspension was revoked within moments.