The Union environment ministry has recently unveiled significant deforestation plans affecting two critical regions in India, raising substantial environmental concerns. Over the next few years, approximately 273,757 trees are slated for removal from the Hasdeo Arand forests in Chhattisgarh. This disclosure was made to the Rajya Sabha, sparking debate over the environmental impact of such extensive tree felling.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav defended the decision by referencing a study commissioned by the Chhattisgarh government, conducted by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India. The study, which was submitted to the Union Forest Ministry on June 14, 2021, did not recommend a complete halt to mining activities in the Hasdeo-Arand coalfields. Yadav highlighted that, as part of compensatory measures, the state government has reportedly planted 5.34 million trees to offset the environmental impact, with 4.09 million of these trees reported to have survived.
However, environmental experts have expressed grave concerns regarding the potential consequences of this large-scale deforestation. Alok Shukla, convener of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and a 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize winner, noted that the dense sal forests of Hasdeo, home to trees over 200 years old, are at significant risk. Shukla pointed out that the Wildlife Institute of India has estimated up to 400 trees per hectare in the region, indicating that the actual number of trees being felled could surpass the reported figures. He warned that the ongoing mining operations could devastate the Hasdeo Bango reservoir and result in irreversible biodiversity loss.
In a separate development, the Union government has also revealed plans to clear up to 964,000 trees in the Great Nicobar Island. This large-scale deforestation is part of a broader development initiative which includes constructing a township, a power plant, and an airport. Junior Environment Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh assured that the project would not interfere with the breeding grounds of leatherback turtles, which are crucial to the island’s ecosystem. Singh emphasised that the significant nesting areas for these turtles have been preserved and that ongoing research and monitoring by the Wildlife Institute of India will ensure the protection of these species.
The ambitious development projects in both Hasdeo Arand and Great Nicobar Island underscore a critical tension between economic development and environmental preservation. As these large-scale deforestation plans proceed, stakeholders are closely monitoring their impact on India’s rich biodiversity and natural resources.
