Massive Tree Felling for Adani’s Coal Mine in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh Raises Environmental Red Flags
Massive Tree Felling in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh District for Adani-Operated Coal Project Sparks Protests and Legal Scrutiny
In an unfolding environmental crisis with deep socio-political ramifications, an extensive deforestation drive has commenced in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district, where approximately 5,000 trees were cut down on June 26 and 27, 2025. The tree felling occurred in the villages of Mudagaon and Saraitola, situated in the Tamnar tehsil. This deforestation is being carried out to facilitate the development of the Gare Palma Sector II coal block, which is allocated to the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO) and operated by the Adani Group under a Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) agreement.
Despite widespread resistance from local communities, environmental activists, and pending legal battles in both the Chhattisgarh High Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the project has moved ahead with government and police support. With over 2,500 hectares of land marked for acquisition, including 215 hectares of dense forest, the project represents a significant ecological and human impact.
Large-Scale Deployment and Detainee Controversy
According to rights groups and ground-level sources, the tree felling operation launched with overwhelming force. On June 26, nearly 2,000 police personnel were deployed to manage the operation and suppress protests. Among those detained were prominent local figures, including Congress MLA Vidyavati Sidar, environmental activist and writer Rinchin, and three women from the local villages who were gathering mahua flowers—a vital forest produce for many tribal communities.
The Chhattisgarh Association for Justice and Equality (CAJE), a civil rights organization active in the region, issued a statement denouncing the detentions as illegal. The detainees were not informed of the reason for their detention and were held in a local forest range office without due process, according to CAJE member Shreya Khemani.
Ongoing Protest Amid Environmental Devastation
Despite the clampdown, resistance continues. Locals have consistently protested since 2017, voicing their opposition to the destruction of forest land that they consider ancestral and vital to their livelihood. As chainsaws brought down towering trees, local women made symbolic gestures by planting saplings next to the felled trunks, even as over 1,000 people gathered at the site in a peaceful show of resistance.
The environmental consequences of the project are substantial. The area is already saturated with coal mines—six are in operation, and four more are planned. The addition of the Gare Palma Sector II mine brings the region closer to an ecological tipping point. The proposed open-cast and underground mining methodologies are known to be polluting, and the project has already attracted national attention for its controversial approval processes.
MAHAGENCO and Adani: Project Scope and Community Impact
Allocated to MAHAGENCO by the Ministry of Coal in 2015, the Gare Palma Sector II coal block is projected to yield 655.153 million metric tonnes of coal. The coal is earmarked for three major thermal power stations in Maharashtra—Chandrapur (1,000 MW), Koradi (1,980 MW), and Parli (1,000 MW).
The financial scale of the project is enormous, pegged at approximately Rs 7,642 crore. It will directly impact 14 villages: Tihli Rampur, Kunjemura, Gare, Saraitola, Mudagaon, Radopali, Pata, Chitwahi, Dholnara, JhinkaBahal, Dolesara, Bhalumura, Sarasmal, and Libra. Nearly 1,700 families face displacement. Beyond the human impact, the 2,583.487 hectares of land to be acquired include vital community forests, falling under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
Forest Rights and Legal Loopholes
Activist Rinchin and other community members argue that the FRA has been violated, as the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from gram sabhas were never obtained. Nearly half of the forest land involved belongs to community forests traditionally managed by Mudagaon and Saraitola villages.
As per the FRA, communities have the legal right to protect and manage their customary forest lands. The forest clearance provided to MAHAGENCO is alleged to be fraudulent, bypassing these mandatory community approvals. Despite this, deforestation proceeded under heavy police presence.
Environmental Clearance: A Tale of Contested Approvals
In July 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) granted environmental clearance to the Gare Palma project. However, this clearance was quashed by the NGT on January 15, 2024, through a detailed 209-page judgment. The NGT cited multiple lapses:
- The ICMR’s health report on Tamnar residents, submitted in February 2020, was ignored by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) during their September 2020 meeting.
- Hydrology assessments concerning the Kelo River—an important tributary of the Mahanadi—were inadequately examined.
- Public consultation was found to be seriously flawed; at least 1,000 residents were denied access to the public hearing in 2019.
The NGT concluded that the clearance had been granted in a manner “vitiated in law,” thereby revoking it.
However, in a controversial move, the MoEFCC reissued environmental clearance to MAHAGENCO in August 2024 using the same disputed public hearing. This clearance was granted despite the NGT’s clear observations and has now become the subject of another legal challenge by Rinchin and other petitioners.
Forests Fall to Fuel Power – The Gare Palma Sector II Coal Mine Controversy
In a dramatic and environmentally consequential move, more than 5,000 trees were felled on June 26 and 27, 2025, in the villages of Mudagaon and Saraitola, located in the Tamnar tehsil of Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district. This large-scale deforestation operation was part of the land clearance for the Gare Palma Sector II coal mining project, which will be operated by the Adani Group for the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO). The unfolding events have raised serious environmental, legal, and human rights concerns, involving forced detentions, contested land rights, ongoing protests, and allegations of illegal environmental clearances.
The Scope of the Project
The Gare Palma Sector II coal block has been allocated to MAHAGENCO with the intent of producing an estimated 655 million metric tonnes of coal. The mined coal is slated to power three thermal stations in Maharashtra: Chandrapur (1,000 MW), Koradi (1,980 MW), and Parli (1,000 MW). The entire project spans approximately 2,584 hectares, including nearly 215 hectares of forest land. This large-scale acquisition affects 14 villages and may displace over 1,700 families, according to internal assessments.
Villages to be Affected:
- Tihli Rampur
- Kunjemura
- Gare
- Saraitola
- Mudagaon
- Radopali
- Pata
- Chitwahi
- Dholnara
- JhinkaBahal
- Dolesara
- Bhalumura
- Sarasmal
- Libra
The ecological and social footprint of this project is vast. In addition to permanent forest loss and displacement of tribal communities, the project represents a continuation of a long-standing struggle between economic development and environmental justice.
Tree Felling Amid Heavy Security Deployment
On June 26, 2025, forest clearing commenced early in the morning under an unprecedented security deployment. According to multiple sources, including local activists and organizations like the Chhattisgarh Association for Justice and Equality (CAJE), approximately 2,000 police and security personnel were deployed in Mudagaon and Saraitola to facilitate the deforestation operation. The large police presence was allegedly aimed at pre-empting and suppressing local protests.
Among the detained were local Congress MLA Vidyavati Sidar, writer and activist Rinchin, and three tribal women who were simply heading to the forest to collect mahua flowers. These individuals were detained without formal charges or warrants, taken to a forest department range office, and released only after a full day. Their detainment has been widely condemned by civil rights organizations and legal experts as unlawful.
CAJE, in its public statement, condemned the detentions and alleged that employees of Adani Power were working alongside forest and police officials to rapidly clear the land. “People were not only silenced but physically removed from their land without due process,” said CAJE member Shreya Khemani.
A Scene of Destruction and Defiance
As tree felling continued on June 27, hundreds of villagers—mostly women—gathered at the sites to witness the loss of their forests. Some of them engaged in peaceful civil resistance, planting forest saplings next to the freshly cut tree trunks in symbolic protest. The emotional weight of the deforestation has left many communities in anguish.
“These forests are not just greenery. They are our ancestors, our medicine, our gods, our life,” said one woman from Mudagaon, who asked not to be named. The connection to the forest runs deep among the tribal communities of Raigarh, many of whom rely on it for food, medicine, fuel, and cultural rituals.
Community Forest Rights Under Threat
The conflict over the Gare Palma Sector II coal mine is not just about trees. It’s also about the denial of legal rights under India’s Forest Rights Act, 2006. This law, also known as the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, provides indigenous communities the right to manage and protect community forest resources.
According to Rinchin, nearly half of the forest land designated for the coal mine is recognized as a community forest under the jurisdiction of the Mudagaon Gram Sabha. This means that, under the law, no forest diversion for industrial use can legally occur without explicit and documented consent from the Gram Sabha. In this case, no such No Objection Certificate (NOC) was obtained from the 14 villages, a fact that has been central to the resistance movement.
Legal Twists: A Tale of Cancelled and Reissued Clearances
The coal mine’s environmental clearance has been under legal scrutiny for years. In July 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) granted environmental clearance to MAHAGENCO for the project. However, in January 2024, this clearance was quashed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), India’s apex environmental court.
In its 209-page order, the NGT cited significant lapses, including:
- Misrepresentation of the status of an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report on health hazards.
- Lack of hydrological studies concerning the River Kelo, a tributary of the Mahanadi.
- Procedural violations during the public hearing process.
According to the NGT, the public hearing held in September 2019 was not conducted in accordance with the law. Over 1,000 villagers were reportedly denied entry, and recorded proceedings did not reflect the scale of opposition. “The affected people were deprived of a fair and unbiased hearing,” the tribunal noted.
Yet, in August 2024—just seven months after the NGT quashed the clearance—the MoEFCC granted a new environmental clearance using the very same public hearing that had been previously ruled invalid. Petitioners, including Rinchin, have since re-approached the NGT. The matter remains pending.
Environmental Cost vs Ecosystem Services
MAHAGENCO’s internal cost-benefit analysis acknowledges an ecosystem service loss valued at Rs 15.22 crore. However, local communities reject such monetization of nature, arguing that no financial figure can capture the true value of ancestral forests. “Forests are our homes, not statistics,” said one protestor from Saraitola. These forests serve as repositories of biodiversity, sources of sustenance, and cultural heritage for generations.
Mining in a Congested Coal Corridor
Raigarh district is already a hotbed of coal mining activity, with six operational mines and four more in various stages of development. Residents and environmentalists argue that the region cannot sustain another project without irreversible ecological damage.
The combined environmental impact of multiple mining projects in the area is not being adequately studied, according to activists. Surface water run-off from open cast mines has already affected the River Kelo, leading to contamination and reduced agricultural productivity.
Deforestation and Conflict Over the Gare Palma Sector II Coal Mine in Chhattisgarh
A Controversial Operation Begins
In the remote and verdant heart of Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district, a significant environmental and human rights crisis is unfolding. On June 26 and 27, 2025, a large-scale tree felling operation was conducted in the villages of Mudagaon and Saraitola, located in Tamnar tehsil. The operation, reportedly supervised by around 2,000 security personnel, led to the cutting down of at least 5,000 trees. This move is tied to the development of the Gare Palma Sector II coal block, a project allotted to the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO) and operated by the Adani Group as its Mine Developer and Operator (MDO).
Despite the promises of economic gain and power generation—an estimated 655 million metric tonnes of coal fueling three major thermal power plants in Maharashtra—local communities and activists have expressed vehement opposition. These villages, rich in biodiversity and deeply connected to forest ecosystems, have stood united in resistance. Their grievances are multifold: environmental destruction, forced displacement, disregard of traditional rights, and administrative opacity.
The Forest Landscape and Community Resistance
The Gare Palma Sector II coal mine demands the acquisition of approximately 2,583 hectares of land, including nearly 215 hectares of forest area. The impacted region is home to 14 villages—Tihli Rampur, Kunjemura, Gare, Saraitola, Mudagaon, Radopali, Pata, Chitwahi, Dholnara, JhinkaBahal, Dolesara, Bhalumura, Sarasmal, and Libra. Approximately 1,700 families stand to be displaced.
Local villagers have expressed that the forests are not merely environmental assets; they are spiritual, ancestral, and economic lifelines. The community forests in Mudagaon and Saraitola fall under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, which enshrines the right of tribal and other traditional forest dwellers to manage and conserve forests. Yet, locals allege that no legitimate Gram Sabha consent or No Objection Certificates (NOCs) were obtained prior to clearing.
According to Rinchin, a writer and activist detained on June 26 along with six others, nearly half the forest land earmarked for mining is classified as community forest under this law. The clearance process, they argue, ignored the consent of Gram Sabhas and violated statutory protections.
Day of the Tree Felling: June 26
June 26, 2025, marked a turning point. From early morning, the villages of Mudagaon and Saraitola witnessed an influx of uniformed personnel and officials from the forest department and Adani Power. Residents and activists, attempting to protest, were met with detentions and suppression. The Chhattisgarh Association for Justice and Equality (CAJE) confirmed that seven individuals—including local Congress MLA Vidyavati Sidar and three women gathering mahua flowers—were taken into custody without formal charges and held at a local range office for the entire day.
As the saws roared and towering trees fell, women began planting saplings beside the stumps—a silent yet powerful act of defiance.
The Scope of the Mining Project
Originally allotted to MAHAGENCO in 2015, the Gare Palma Sector II coal mine represents one of the most significant thermal energy prospects in central India. The coal mined here will supply three major thermal power plants: the 1,000 MW Chandrapur station, the 1,980 MW Koradi station, and the 1,000 MW Parli station. The estimated project cost is Rs 7,642 crore.
Mining activities will include both open cast and underground operations, potentially escalating environmental degradation. Open cast mining, in particular, has been linked to soil erosion, dust pollution, water contamination, and long-term biodiversity loss.
NGT Ruling and Environmental Clearance Reinstated
In January 2024, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) delivered a landmark 209-page judgment quashing the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s (MoEFCC) 2022 environmental clearance for the project. The NGT cited procedural violations, such as the failure to consider a health impact assessment by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), submitted in February 2020 but disregarded by the ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee.
The NGT also highlighted that hydrological assessments regarding River Kelo, a critical tributary of the Mahanadi, were not undertaken. Furthermore, the public hearing process in 2019, deemed essential under Indian environmental law, was found to be deeply flawed—thousands of villagers were denied access to the venue, and their objections went unrecorded.
Despite this strong censure, MoEFCC granted a fresh environmental clearance in August 2024, using the same public hearing that had been invalidated. This triggered a fresh round of litigation, with activists, including Rinchin, challenging the new clearance. The matter is once again pending before the NGT.
Police Presence and Suppression of Dissent
The deployment of over 2,000 police and security personnel on June 26 illustrates the lengths to which authorities have gone to enforce the felling operation. Detentions without legal grounds, the silencing of elected representatives, and the forceful exclusion of citizens from participating in decision-making signal a troubling pattern of state overreach.
Human rights advocates argue that such militarised enforcement in civilian areas, especially tribal zones protected under the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, raises critical concerns. CAJE condemned the detentions as illegal, arguing they were an attempt to preemptively neutralise dissent.
Ecosystem Services and Local Economy
The forest areas being cleared provide essential ecosystem services. According to MAHAGENCO’s own cost-benefit analysis, the loss of forest ecosystem services is valued at Rs 15.22 crore. But for villagers, the forests are their supermarket, pharmacy, and spiritual center—all rolled into one. Mahua flowers, tendu leaves, medicinal plants, and seasonal fruits form the backbone of the local economy.
Communities argue that their customary and collective rights over these forests—legally recognised by Indian law—are being disregarded in favor of industrial profits. The Forest Rights Act, which mandates Gram Sabha consent and community stewardship, remains on paper.
Part 2 Preview: The Legal Battle, Environmental Impact, and the Path Forward
In the second part of this detailed series, we will examine:
- The specific legal provisions under the Forest Rights Act that have allegedly been violated.
- Detailed environmental implications of open cast coal mining.
- The history of protests and resistance since 2017.
- Statements from key stakeholders, including villagers, legal experts, and environmental scientists.
- A breakdown of the NGT ruling and its implications.
- The paradox of economic development versus environmental justice.
The Gare Palma Sector II coal mine project has become emblematic of India’s larger dilemma: balancing energy security with ecological and human rights. As the felling of trees continues in Raigarh’s forests, so too does the fight to protect them.
Legal Violations, Environmental Ramifications, and a Community’s Struggle for Justice
Legal Violations Under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006
The Forest Rights Act (FRA), enacted in 2006, was a landmark piece of legislation aimed at rectifying the historical injustice faced by forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers. The Act recognizes their rights to forest land and resources, which had long been denied by colonial and post-independence forest policies.
Under Section 3(1)(i) of the FRA, these communities are entitled to protect, regenerate, conserve, and manage any community forest resource they have traditionally protected. Crucially, the law mandates that prior informed consent must be obtained from the concerned Gram Sabhas before any forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes.
In the case of the Gare Palma Sector II coal mine, activists argue that no such consent was legally obtained from the 14 affected villages. The lack of NOCs (No Objection Certificates) from Gram Sabhas is a critical omission. According to activist Rinchin and other members of the Chhattisgarh Association for Justice and Equality (CAJE), community rights over large portions of the land were never formally extinguished—making any forest clearance granted without their consent unlawful.
Legal experts believe that this constitutes not just a procedural lapse but a violation of constitutional rights guaranteed under Articles 21 (Right to Life) and 300A (Right to Property).
Environmental Implications of Open Cast Mining
Open cast mining—one of the methodologies proposed for the Gare Palma Sector II project—is environmentally catastrophic. This technique involves the large-scale removal of surface vegetation, soil, and rock to access coal seams underneath. In the process, it drastically alters the topography and destroys biodiversity.
Among the major environmental consequences are:
- Air pollution: Dust emissions from blasting and excavation activities increase particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), causing respiratory and cardiovascular issues in nearby populations.
- Water pollution: Runoff containing heavy metals and acid mine drainage pollutes local water bodies. The River Kelo, a tributary of the Mahanadi, is particularly at risk, as noted by the NGT.
- Soil degradation: The excavation process leads to erosion, nutrient depletion, and long-term loss of soil fertility.
- Deforestation: Loss of forest cover leads to biodiversity collapse, increased carbon emissions, and loss of livelihoods for forest-dependent communities.
Environmental scientists argue that the cumulative impact of six existing mines and four proposed ones in Raigarh has already pushed the region’s ecosystem to a tipping point.
Public Hearing Irregularities and the NGT’s Findings
A key component of the environmental clearance process is the public hearing, which provides affected communities an opportunity to voice concerns. The NGT judgment from January 15, 2024, concluded that the hearing conducted in September 2019 was deeply flawed.
More than 1,000 villagers were reportedly denied entry to the venue. Those who managed to attend claimed their objections were not recorded. The NGT ruled that the hearing was not conducted in a manner that met the legal standards for informed public consultation.
Despite this, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) granted a new clearance in August 2024 based on the same hearing. The tribunal’s order had clearly stated that the hearing did not fulfill the requirements of natural justice and democratic consultation. Activists have once again challenged the reissued clearance, and the matter is now pending before the NGT.
The Social and Cultural Impact on Local Communities
The people of Mudagaon, Saraitola, and other affected villages are largely composed of Adivasi (indigenous) communities with centuries-old ties to the land. These forests are not only ecological resources but also cultural and spiritual anchors.
Displacement threatens to break this link. Families will not only lose their homes but also access to minor forest produce (mahua, tendu, bamboo), medicinal herbs, and grazing land for livestock. The forests are sites for traditional rituals, festivals, and community gatherings.
Moreover, past experience with mining-induced displacement in Chhattisgarh has shown that rehabilitation and compensation are often delayed, inadequate, or entirely absent. Many displaced families from previous projects still live in substandard conditions.
Statements from Key Stakeholders
Rinchin, Activist: “The forest is our mother. Every time a tree falls, it feels like someone from the community has been taken away. This project is not just about coal, it’s about the erasure of a way of life.”
Shreya Khemani, CAJE Member: “There is a clear disregard for law and justice. Detaining people without charge, ignoring the FRA, bypassing due process—these are not mere bureaucratic oversights. They reflect a systematic effort to silence the voices of the marginalised.”
MAHAGENCO Statement (from official filings): “The project is essential for meeting Maharashtra’s rising energy demands and will contribute significantly to the state’s power security. Environmental mitigation measures are in place.”
Independent Environmental Expert: “You cannot have six operational mines, four under development, and still talk about mitigation. This region is already environmentally stressed.”
A Pattern of Greenwashing and Institutional Failure?
Critics argue that what is unfolding in Raigarh is a pattern seen elsewhere in India: environmental regulations diluted in the name of development, oversight mechanisms manipulated, and communities sidelined. The ease with which MAHAGENCO regained environmental clearance—even after the NGT had decisively quashed it—suggests institutional complicity or at least negligence.
Moreover, cost-benefit analyses that reduce ecosystem services to monetary values often underestimate the true socio-cultural cost of forest loss. These analyses seldom account for intangible values—like spiritual connection, historical legacy, and communal cohesion.
The Road Ahead: What Can Be Done?
- Immediate Moratorium: Environmental groups are demanding an immediate halt to tree felling and mining-related activity until all legal challenges are resolved.
- Judicial Oversight: The Supreme Court may be moved in case the NGT is unable to enforce its orders. The need for apex judicial review is being actively discussed among civil society groups.
- Restoration of Rights: The FRA process must be re-initiated, with full and fair Gram Sabha consultations. Any consent must be informed, voluntary, and recorded transparently.
- Ecological Reassessment: A fresh Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be carried out, especially given the outdated and flawed assessments used so far.
- Strengthening Institutions: Experts call for reforms within the MoEFCC and its appraisal committees to prevent further green clearances from being granted on flawed grounds.
Conclusion: Development at What Cost?
The Gare Palma Sector II coal mine project stands at the confluence of some of India’s most urgent challenges—energy security, environmental protection, indigenous rights, and democratic governance. The stakes are not just local; they are national.
As trees fall in Raigarh and bulldozers move in, so does the credibility of the country’s environmental governance. Whether the law, the courts, and the people can prevail over unchecked corporate and state power remains to be seen.
The Broader National Context — Energy Policy, Climate Goals, and the Future of Environmental Justice in India
A National Energy Policy at Crossroads
India is among the fastest-growing economies in the world and has one of the most ambitious energy agendas. By 2030, the country aims to produce 500 GW from non-fossil fuel sources, as outlined in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Yet, paradoxically, coal remains the backbone of India’s current energy matrix, accounting for around 55% of its power generation.
The development of the Gare Palma Sector II coal mine exemplifies this paradox. While India is investing in solar, wind, and hydroelectric infrastructure, it is also ramping up domestic coal production to reduce reliance on imports and fuel state-run thermal plants. Maharashtra, the beneficiary of this project, is one of the largest power-consuming states in India.
Government officials argue that coal is essential for energy security. But the expansion of mining in ecologically sensitive zones—especially when renewable alternatives are viable—undermines the very climate commitments India has pledged to uphold.
Adani Group and the Question of Accountability
The involvement of the Adani Group—a conglomerate that has consistently drawn scrutiny for environmental and regulatory violations—adds another layer of complexity. As the Mine Developer and Operator (MDO), Adani is responsible not only for the physical execution of the mining but also for compliance with environmental, legal, and social obligations.
Critics argue that Adani’s track record raises questions about the enforcement of such obligations. For example, in other states such as Gujarat and Jharkhand, Adani’s mining and energy projects have faced similar accusations of violating local consent procedures, bypassing regulatory norms, and disregarding environmental compliance.
In this context, Gare Palma Sector II is not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern. The absence of stringent monitoring, combined with collusion or apathy at institutional levels, allows large corporations to continue operations with little accountability.
Climate Change and the International Lens
India is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. The summer of 2024 saw record-breaking heatwaves across central India, and unpredictable monsoons continue to wreak havoc on agriculture. In this context, projects like Gare Palma Sector II are increasingly difficult to justify.
Internationally, India has positioned itself as a leader in the Global South’s climate diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently advocated for climate justice, equitable carbon space, and international funding for developing nations. However, back home, the continued reliance on coal belies these claims.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has repeatedly warned that to stay below the 1.5°C warming threshold, global coal use must be drastically reduced by 2030. India, with its dual identity as a developing economy and a rising power, is under intense pressure to reconcile development needs with climate responsibilities.
Judicial Precedents and Environmental Jurisprudence
India has a robust history of environmental jurisprudence. The Supreme Court, in several landmark cases—such as the T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad series and the Vellore Citizens’ Welfare Forum case—has upheld the principles of sustainable development, the precautionary principle, and intergenerational equity.
The NGT’s strong stance on the Gare Palma case aligns with this tradition. Its quashing of the initial clearance was a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s role as the guardian of environmental justice. However, the ease with which the MoEFCC reissued clearance—despite the NGT’s clear objections—shows the limits of judicial power when administrative systems are non-cooperative.
The petitioners have now re-approached the NGT, but legal experts warn that unless institutions internalise the principles laid down by courts, the cycle of clearance, challenge, and re-clearance will continue indefinitely.
Socio-Economic Alternatives to Coal Mining
There is growing consensus among energy economists and policy analysts that coal is increasingly unviable—not just environmentally but economically. The Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for solar power has declined significantly, making renewables more attractive in the long term.
For the communities of Raigarh, development does not have to come at the cost of displacement. Agroforestry, sustainable harvesting of forest produce, ecotourism, and decentralized solar projects have all been proposed as viable alternatives. Such models require state investment, policy support, and long-term commitment—but they promise equitable and sustainable development.
Media, Public Discourse, and the Role of Civil Society
Coverage of the Gare Palma deforestation has largely been limited to independent outlets like The Wire and Newslaundry. Mainstream media, with notable exceptions, has underreported the scale and implications of the crisis. This media silence contributes to the normalization of forest clearance and undermines public accountability.
Civil society organizations, however, have played a critical role in amplifying local voices, filing legal challenges, and documenting violations. The presence of writers like Rinchin, organizations like CAJE, and hundreds of unnamed local activists form the backbone of this resistance.
Social media platforms have also become vital tools for advocacy, with photos and videos of fallen trees, police presence, and sapling planting ceremonies going viral. These digital narratives challenge the official story and force public reckoning.
A Fork in the Road: What Will India Choose?
The Gare Palma Sector II conflict forces India to confront a fundamental question: What kind of development does the country envision?
- One that is extractive, centralized, and corporate-driven?
- Or one that is decentralized, ecologically informed, and rooted in democratic participation?
There is no simple answer. But the events in Raigarh, the resistance of its people, and the decisions of Indian courts are all shaping the contours of that answer.
As we look ahead, three developments will be pivotal:
- The pending NGT verdict on the reissued clearance.
- The evolving legal status of FRA compliance in mineral-rich tribal zones.
- India’s updated National Energy Policy, expected in 2026, which may offer clarity on coal’s future in the national energy mix.
Forests or Fossil Fuels?
The clash between forests and fossil fuels is not just environmental—it is civilizational. Gare Palma is more than a coal mine; it is a litmus test for India’s commitment to democracy, justice, and sustainability.
The people of Mudagaon and Saraitola have already made their choice. Whether the rest of the nation will stand with them remains the pressing question.
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