Raigarh, Chhattisgarh — A large-scale tree felling operation was carried out on June 26 and 27 in the villages of Mudagaon and Saraitola, located in Tamnar tehsil of Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district, triggering alarm among local communities and environmental activists.
According to ground reports shared with The Wire, over 5,000 trees were felled in just two days to clear space for the development of a coal mine in the Gare Palma Sector II coal block. The mine is to be operated by the Adani Group on behalf of the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO).
The project, which is estimated to yield a massive 655 million metric tonnes of coal, will significantly impact the region. Around 2,584 hectares of land are slated for acquisition, directly affecting 14 villages. Of the total area earmarked for the project, approximately 215 hectares comprise dense forest land that will be completely cleared of trees and natural vegetation.
Local activists have raised concerns over the environmental and social consequences of the deforestation, citing the loss of biodiversity and displacement of forest-dependent communities. Despite the potential economic gains from the coal output, the human and ecological costs are drawing sharp criticism.
Authorities have yet to respond to growing calls for reconsideration or mitigation of the environmental damage caused by the mining project.
