Online petition against Parsa Mining Project of Chattisgarh

Team L&M

Unhappy with the state government as well as the Union Ministry of Environment not paying any heed to their protests against the massive felling of tree in the Hasdeo Forest in Chattisgarh, Lokendra Balasaria has started an online petition seeking public support for putting a stop to this project.

By May 30, over 13,000 people have already signed the petition against the rampant cutting of trees for the Parsa Mining Project in Surajpur and Surguja districts of Chattisgarh. Over two lakh trees face the threat of being axed for this project which will also impact the area’s biodiversity in a negative way.

The Chhattisgarh state government grated 841.538 hectares of forest land for the Parsa mining project last month, though with certain pre-conditions.

As per the information available, hundreds of people stand to lose their home and hearth due to Parsa Mining Project for which around 840 hectares of dense forest will be destroyed. Over two lakh trees face the threat of being axed due to this project.

People living near Hasdeo forest have been resisting mining activities and felling of trees in the area for years.

Last year, the biodiversity study conducted by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) in consultation with Wildlife Institute of India, in Hasdeo Arand Coalfield, to assess the floral and faunal biodiversity of coalfield comprising 23 coal blocks recommended that total 14 coalfields may not be recommended for mining keeping in view of conserving the relatively dense moist-dry deciduous sal dominated forest tracts that provide home forest for elephants.