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Chhattisgarh Assembly Erupts Over Hasdeo Aranya Tree Felling Issue, Opposition MLAs Suspended | India News
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RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha witnessed noisy scenes on Wednesday over tree felling in the Hasdeo Aranya forests, leading to an abrupt adjournment for five minutes and the suspension of 30 opposition Congress legislators for trooping into the well of the house and pressing for a debate. They cited that the assembly had unanimously passed a resolution last year urging the Centre to cancel all coal blocks in the forest area.
After Speaker Dr Raman Singh disallowed the opposition notice for an adjournment motion, Congress legislators created an uproar, leading to the house adjourning for five minutes. After the house reassembled, opposition Congress members reiterated their demand for a debate on their notice and trooped into the well of the house, leading to the suspension of 30 opposition members. However, their suspension was later revoked.
Legislative affairs minister Brijmohan Agrawal described the opposition demand as unjustified as the chair had already disallowed the notice.
Earlier, speaking on the admissibility of the motion, Leader of the Opposition Charandas Mahant said the house on July 26, 2022, had unanimously adopted a private member resolution urging the Centre to cancel all coal blocks in the Hasdeo Aranya region, and a letter was also sent to the Centre, but no action has been taken.
Before the formation of the new government in Chhattisgarh after the 2023 assembly polls, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) had granted permission to cut down 15,307 trees in Hasdeo. Describing it as a serious issue, he said such haste was shown despite the assembly unanimously passing the resolution against tree felling and coal mining in the ecologically fragile Hasdeo forests in the state’s northern region.
Expressing concern over tree felling, Mahant said, “The end of Hasdeo will also result in the end of the Bango Dam due to silting.”
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel sought to know “What was the invisible power that forced the grant of permission for tree felling when the assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution against it?”. He said such interventions in Hasdeo would adversely affect the tribals and impact the Bango Dam which, he said, will affect irrigation in many districts.
Kunwar Singh Nishad and Vikram Mandavi (both Congress) said that life will be affected if tree felling is not stopped. There is a human-elephant conflict in Hasdeo. Tribals of Hasdeo are not able to voice their concerns. There is a threat to the water, forest, and land of the tribals.
Anila Bhediya (Congress) said that the forest is being cut down for industrialists. There is a BJP government at the Centre and in the state. Efforts should be made to save Hasdeo and protect the tribals, she said, while her party colleague Ambika Markam said that the Chief Minister is a tribal and being a tribal he will consider the welfare of the community.
Atal Srivastava (Congress) said that the land of the tribals is being destroyed. Trees are being cut under police protection while Laljeet Singh Rathia (Cong) said that a tribal chief minister is a shield for the state’s tribals and he should address this tribal issue.
Congress legislators Harshita Swami Baghel and Savitri Mandavi said that instead of making Hasdeo a matter of the Centre and the state, a decision should be taken in the interest of the tribals. “Our ancestors have protected this forest for thousands of years. It is like destroying wildlife along with tribal culture,” they said.
Raghvendra Kumar Singh (Cong) said that it was mentioned in the World Bank report that the income of farmers in the Hasdeo region increased by 160%. These are dense forest areas. In the Khadgawa region, there are more forest rights leases. Rajasthan has sufficient coal, he said.
BJP MLA Dharamjeet Singh said that those who are talking about tribal interests today did not utter a word when in power.
The Leader of the Opposition said that three lakh metric tons of coal deposits are there in the country, which is outside the Hasdeo region. Even after saving Hasdeo, coal needs can be met. There are more than a hundred species of flora and fauna in Hasdeo.
After Speaker Dr Raman Singh disallowed the opposition notice for an adjournment motion, Congress legislators created an uproar, leading to the house adjourning for five minutes. After the house reassembled, opposition Congress members reiterated their demand for a debate on their notice and trooped into the well of the house, leading to the suspension of 30 opposition members. However, their suspension was later revoked.
Legislative affairs minister Brijmohan Agrawal described the opposition demand as unjustified as the chair had already disallowed the notice.
Earlier, speaking on the admissibility of the motion, Leader of the Opposition Charandas Mahant said the house on July 26, 2022, had unanimously adopted a private member resolution urging the Centre to cancel all coal blocks in the Hasdeo Aranya region, and a letter was also sent to the Centre, but no action has been taken.
Before the formation of the new government in Chhattisgarh after the 2023 assembly polls, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) had granted permission to cut down 15,307 trees in Hasdeo. Describing it as a serious issue, he said such haste was shown despite the assembly unanimously passing the resolution against tree felling and coal mining in the ecologically fragile Hasdeo forests in the state’s northern region.
Expressing concern over tree felling, Mahant said, “The end of Hasdeo will also result in the end of the Bango Dam due to silting.”
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel sought to know “What was the invisible power that forced the grant of permission for tree felling when the assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution against it?”. He said such interventions in Hasdeo would adversely affect the tribals and impact the Bango Dam which, he said, will affect irrigation in many districts.
Kunwar Singh Nishad and Vikram Mandavi (both Congress) said that life will be affected if tree felling is not stopped. There is a human-elephant conflict in Hasdeo. Tribals of Hasdeo are not able to voice their concerns. There is a threat to the water, forest, and land of the tribals.
Anila Bhediya (Congress) said that the forest is being cut down for industrialists. There is a BJP government at the Centre and in the state. Efforts should be made to save Hasdeo and protect the tribals, she said, while her party colleague Ambika Markam said that the Chief Minister is a tribal and being a tribal he will consider the welfare of the community.
Atal Srivastava (Congress) said that the land of the tribals is being destroyed. Trees are being cut under police protection while Laljeet Singh Rathia (Cong) said that a tribal chief minister is a shield for the state’s tribals and he should address this tribal issue.
Congress legislators Harshita Swami Baghel and Savitri Mandavi said that instead of making Hasdeo a matter of the Centre and the state, a decision should be taken in the interest of the tribals. “Our ancestors have protected this forest for thousands of years. It is like destroying wildlife along with tribal culture,” they said.
Raghvendra Kumar Singh (Cong) said that it was mentioned in the World Bank report that the income of farmers in the Hasdeo region increased by 160%. These are dense forest areas. In the Khadgawa region, there are more forest rights leases. Rajasthan has sufficient coal, he said.
BJP MLA Dharamjeet Singh said that those who are talking about tribal interests today did not utter a word when in power.
The Leader of the Opposition said that three lakh metric tons of coal deposits are there in the country, which is outside the Hasdeo region. Even after saving Hasdeo, coal needs can be met. There are more than a hundred species of flora and fauna in Hasdeo.
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