India's Forest Panel Backs Coal Projects, Approving Nearly 400,000 Tree Felling

India's Forest Advisory Committee has recommended initial forest clearance for three significant coal mining projects, which will necessitate the diversion of over 1,700 hectares of forest land and the felling of approximately 389,000 trees. The committee's July 6 meeting also saw recommendations for 10 other projects, totaling over 2,000 hectares of forest land diversion.

The Purunga Underground Coal Block in Chhattisgarh will require 4,368 trees to be felled, with a wildlife management plan of ₹14.81 crore approved due to occasional wildlife movements. The Pelma Open Cast Mine, also in Chhattisgarh, will impact 362.109 hectares of forest land and lead to the felling of 52,570 trees, despite the presence of stray elephants.

The Alaknanda Coal Mine project in Odisha is projected to have the most substantial impact, affecting over 330,000 trees. Experts express concern that these projects, particularly Alaknanda, will significantly impact forest land and displace both village and forest-dependent communities. Prakriti Srivastava, a retired IFS officer, noted that the Alaknanda site is scheduled tribe land, raising concerns similar to the Sijimali bauxite mining project where indigenous community rights were allegedly violated.

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Similar to the Sijimali bauxite mining project in Odisha, where the rights of the indigenous communities have been violated, the Alaknanda site in Odisha is also scheduled tribe land and so not only does it impact a large number of trees and key forest patches, it impacts villages.