A WEEK after Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel met tribals who had marched over 300 km to Raipur to protest against coal mining in Hasdeo Aranya, the Centre has given stage II clearance for mining in Parsa coal block in Chhattisgarh. Parsa is one of the six coal blocks allocated in the region despite their agitation, according to Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, a joint platform of protesters from Sarguja and Korba districts.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change letter issued on Thursday said that the clearances were based on the state government’s recommendation. The protesters claim that when they met the CM, they were told that the Centre was pushing for coal mining in the region.
