[Marxistindia] Letter to Bhupender Yadav

[news from the cpi(m)]

August 6, 2025



Press Release

 

Smt. Brinda Karat, Special Invitee, Central Committee of the Communist Party
of India (Marxist), and former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, has
written the following letter today to Shri. Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister
for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, regarding the decision of the
Chhattisgarh Forest department, which would result in the destruction of
1742 hectares of dense forest land.



We are herewith releasing the text of the letter for publication.

 

(Muralidharan)

For CPI(M) Central Committee office

 

Shri. Bhupender Yadav ji, 

 

Namaskar.

 

I am writing to you to strongly oppose and to request your intervention to
reverse the destructive decision of the Chhattisgarh Forest department to
give the green signal for the operationalization of the Kente Extension Coal
Project which requires the destruction of 1742 hectares of dense forest
land. The approval follows the so-called inspection of the site by the
Surguja District Forest Officer in June this year. 

 

As you are no doubt aware, this project, which is part of the larger
Hasdeo-Arand region coal project, was given to a Rajasthan government owned
power utility. The former Rajasthan government had set up a joint venture
with Adani Enterprises called Parsa Kente Collieries Limited, where Adani
holds a 74% stake. This company was appointed the Mine Developer cum
Operator of the Hasdeo-Parsa coal project. Records have shown that a
substantial amount of coal mined under this venture has been diverted to the
private company's power projects in the name of use of 'rejected coal'.
These facts are relevant since the reasoning given for the clearance of the
Kente Extension Coal Project is of 'public interest'. There is no public
interest involved, only the exploitation of mineral resources for private
gain.

 

The project, if implemented, will add further disaster to the already badly
affected areas where mining is being done. According to the official
inspection report, at least 4.5 lakh trees are going to be felled. These are
in the dense forest, which is full of indigenous trees critical for carbon
sequestration. Open cast mining in this region has already destroyed
thousands of trees, polluted the waters, and the ground soil. 

 


Moreover, these projects are being taken up ignoring the opinions of the
gram sabhas involved and the provisions of the constitution and legal
frameworks that make consent of the gram sabhas mandatory. Open cast mining
affects a very large geographical area beyond the actual project. So even
though human habitation in this specific area is negligible, many villages
outside the area will be deeply affected. Earlier, more than 1500 written
objections from local communities were given to the government. But these
have been ignored.

 

I would like to remind you of your statement a few months ago, when,
commenting on the Forest Survey of India report you had said that "forest
cover is lost due to titles being given under the FRA, 2006. Stringent
protection measures are required." (Hindustan Times, June 5). We had
protested against that statement and pointed out that forest cover was being
lost because of so-called development projects. Stringent protection
measures are indeed required-to protect our forests from being destroyed by
private mining projects in the name of development. It is the adivasis of
this region who have once again by their resistance to the project and their
efforts to save the trees and the destruction of nature proved that it is
they who are the real protectors of forests in India.

 

It is surely your responsibility as the Union Minister for Environment,
Forests and Climate Change, to save the forests and the wanton felling of
trees and the destruction of a rich bio-diverse area, over the interests of
a private company.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Brinda Karat

(Special Invitee, CC & Former MP)

 

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