The protest against cutting of Hasdev Aranya forest in Chhattisgarh is gradually gaining momentum. Intellectuals and environment lovers have also joined this movement to save the Hasdev Aranya forest spread in the border area of three states. Coal reserves have been found under the forest spread over 1 lakh 70 thousand hectares and the forest has been auctioned by the Central Government for mining.
In such a situation, the mining company has started its work as soon as the mine is auctioned. The villagers allege that so many trees have been sacrificed for the mine that the entire area has been transformed from a forest into a field. This harvesting has been going on for almost a decade. There was opposition to the mine even in the Congress government but the work of cutting of trees did not stop and now this opposition of the villagers continues in the BJP government.
What is Hasdev Aranya Movement?
Actually, coal reserves have been found beneath Hasdev Aranya area. Due to which it has been decided to build Parsa East Kete Basen mine here. Out of 1 lakh 70 thousand hectares, trees in 137 acres of forest area have been cut. In such a situation, the villagers are opposing the cutting of this forest. According to sources, 9 lakh trees are to be cut here after which 23 coal blocks will be built.
This movement has been going on by the villagers for 2 years against the cutting of trees. Which is being compared to the Chipko movement to save trees. Every effort is being made by the villagers to save this forest.
According to the report presented by the Wildlife Institute of India in the year 2021, 10 thousand people of tribal castes like Gond, Lohar and Oraon live in Hasdev Aranya. Apart from this, there are 82 types of birds, rare species of butterflies and 167 types of flora. Out of which there are 18 plants which are on the verge of extinction. Besides, Hasdev river also flows in this area and Hasdev forest is situated in the catchment area of this river. Due to these reasons, this forest is also called the lungs of Central India. In such a situation, if this entire forest is cut down, then people may have to suffer huge losses in the future.