Congress Tribal Cell Chief visits Hasdeo, alleges illegal coal mining
Ambikapur | Correspondent: National President of the Tribal cell of Indian National Congress Dr. Vikrant Bhuria on tuesday had visited to Hariharpur the most affected village due to mining in Chhattisgarh's Hasdeo Aranya region and addressed a public meeting.
He leveled serious allegations against the state government stating that the coal blocks have been illegally approved following which the trees are being felled without a delay.
PESA act is being openly violated and depite having a tribal Chief Minister, tribal community is facing injustice, Dr. Bhuria further added.
He also warned that consent of gram sabhas are completely being disregarded and mining operations are being advanced, which is a direct violation of constitutionally guaranteed rights. The Congress leader assured that this issue would be strongly raised in both the state assembly and Parliament so that the entire country becomes aware of the reality of Hasdeo.
Villagers from Balrampur, Sarguja, Surajpur attending the public meeting expressed their grievances. They explained how due to the ongoing mining operations livelihoods, water sources are severely being impacted, water sources are drying up, forests are disappearing, health issues are increasing and the environment is severely affected.
Projects are being imposed on them without the approval of their Gram Sabhas creating deep crisis of trust, the protestersfurther added.
Dr. Bhuria also said, without legal consent from the Gram Sabhas several coal projects including Kete extension. He expressed concern that the expansion of mining in such a sensitive forest area would devastate biodiversity and darken the future of the local communities.
Meanwhile former Chairman of the Scheduled Tribes Commission Bhanu Pratap Singh who was also present in the meeting was stopped by the supporters of mining projects leading to a heated arguement among the oppositions.
After the meeting concluded, the villagers raised slogans against the government, demanding the protection of Hasdeo. Besides Surajpur Congress District President Shashi Singh, several public representatives and activists, including Ramlal, Muneshwar, Sunita, Vidya Sagar Ayam, and Tribhuvan Singh from the Hasdeo Bachao Andolan (Save Hasdeo Movement), were present in large numbers at the program.
