The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly opposed the Chhattisgarh Forest Department’s decision to allow the Kente Extension Coal Project, which it said would result in the destruction of 1742 hectares of dense forest land.
According to party leader Brinda Karat, the project would lead to the felling of at least 4.5 lakh trees, critical for carbon sequestration.
In a letter to Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, Karat, also a former member of Parliament, questioned the reasoning behind the project’s clearance, citing “public interest.” She alleged that the project is actually meant for private gain, with Adani Enterprises holding a 74 per cent stake in the joint venture.
“The project, if implemented, will add further disaster to the already badly affected areas where mining is being done,” Karat wrote. “There is no public interest involved, only the exploitation of mineral resources for private gain.”
Karat also criticised the government for ignoring the opinions of gram sabhas and local communities, despite over 1500 written objections being submitted. “Open-cast mining affects a very large geographical area beyond the actual project,” she pointed out.
Reminding Yadav of his previous statement on forest conservation, Karat emphasised the need for stringent protection measures to safeguard forests from destructive projects. “It is the adivasis of this region who have once again proved that they are the real protectors of forests in India,” she said.
Karat urged Yadav to intervene and reverse the decision, prioritising forest conservation and the rights of local communities.