Welcome back to our newsletter! In this edition, we've got insightful stories, new conflict reports and updates to keep you informed and engaged.

In our latest piece, contributor Maitreya Prithwiraj Ghorpade explores the ramifications of the construction of the Manohar International Airport, in north Goa’s Mopa village. Ignoring environmental consequences and land acquisition issues, the airport commenced operations in 2023. The project has disrupted groundwater recharge and natural springs, impacting the lives of over 7,000 residents in the area. Additionally, tensions have arisen with local farmers due to diversion of water from nearby canals and reservoirs to meet the airport’s water requirements. Read the full report here.

Our senior research fellow Priyansha Chouhan has been tracking a new policy initiative of the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change, called Green Credits, notified in October 2023. These rules provide a mechanism for companies to offset diversion of forests for non-forest purposes, like mining and setting up industries. The notification states that an entity or individual could earn credit points for doing any of the eight identified environmental activities, such as plantation of trees and water and waste management. These credits would be saleable on a domestic market platform. The scheme would be carried out in various phases, with the initial phase focussing on water management and afforestation.

The rules mandated the forest departments of different states to “identify the degraded land parcels, including open forests and scrub land, wasteland, and catchment areas” for plantation by the industries.

In an open letter, over 90 former civil servants objected to the methodology devised by the government—released in February 2024—for assessing these credit points. They alleged that this would open legally protected forests for industrial plantations and lead to greenwashing by the corporations. Experts say that since “degraded land” has not been defined, the process of identification would be shrouded with ambiguity. Researchers also alleged that the land used by tribal and pastoral communities could be threatened by the new rules.

New in our Database:

We currently track 758 ongoing conflicts in the LCW database. Last month, our researchers added 13 conflicts and provided four updates:

Assam:

1. Researcher Sarup Sinha investigated the forced eviction of 197 families from Khudigaon II Block village, for a solar power project, despite their possession of official documents. The conflict raises questions about the families’ legal residency status and rights.
2. He also reported on an eviction drive in Mandia Bazar of Barpeta district, aimed at reclaiming 1.6 acres of illegally occupied roadside land for road widening, prompting concerns over destruction of sacred places and requests for relocation of the affected families.
3. Researcher Emilo Yanthan reported on the eviction of around 50 families, in Goalpara district’s Pancharatna village. The eviction drive, conducted on the grounds of illegal occupation of forest land and human-elephant conflicts, led to tensions and allegations of fatalities caused by cold exposure after the displacement.
4. She also wrote about a border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya, over the construction of a road to Bakhlapara village—in Meghalaya’s jurisdiction—without authorisation from Meghalayan authorities. The project comes under the Mukhya Mantri Pakipath Nirman Achani plan.
5. Emilo also reported on the Guwahati Municipal Corporation’s eviction drive in the city’s Forest Gate area, that targeted unauthorised structures on land owned by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited. The drive sparked protests from affected residents, who claimed that they received no advance notice, and led to demands for proper documentation and rehabilitation procedures.
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Delhi:

In the Chilla Khadar village of east Delhi, farmers faced eviction threats from the Delhi Development Authority over ownership of the Yamuna floodplain. The DDA’s proposed Riverfront Development Project has triggered uncertainty as officials redraw boundaries. Read Saumya Shrivastava’s report on this.
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Haryana:

Around 80 farmers were detained in Manesar, by Gurugram Police, during their march to the prime minister’s residence. The East Street Journal Asia reported that these farmers were protesting against inadequate compensation for land acquired in 2011. The protest sparked clashes with authorities, who enforced Section 144 to prevent the march to Delhi.
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Maharashtra:

1. Researcher Shubham Kothari reported on police deployment in Mumbai’s Lumbini Bagh, during a demolition drive of slums designated for redevelopment. The police had accompanied the developer’s demolition squad. Residents have resisted the redevelopment due to dissatisfaction over  undisclosed agreements with the redeveloper and eviction orders.
2. He also reported another conflict where the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai demolished about 200 structures of a slum in Panchsheel Nagar, rendering over 1,000 people homeless. This sparked protests from residents and activists over allegations of procedural violations, such as lack of official notices and incomplete surveys.
3. Residents of Chikhli village in Satara district forced the shutdown of 41 wind turbines operated by Suzlon, protesting alleged fraudulent land acquisition. This was part of a larger agitation against wind energy companies in Satara and Sangli districts, that led to policy changes, including fixed land-lease rates and taxation for windmill projects. However, individual disputes and corruption allegations persist, as reported by Malavika Neurekar.
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Arunachal Pradesh:

1. Residents of Banderdewa protested eviction notices from the Assam administration for a National Highway, citing disputed boundaries and inadequate notice. Locals accused Assam of targeting structures beyond the designated area, and called for Arunachal Pradesh’s administration to intervene, as reported by our researcher Emilo Yanthan.
2. Residents of Nyukmadong village in West Kameng, opposed a Border Roads Organisation-administered road project that they say is encroaching on their sacred forests. They alleged destruction of over 80% of the 36 sq. km area without consultation or compensation. The East Street Journal Asia reported that the community has sought justice for the irreversible damage to their sacred sites and biodiversity-rich forest ecosystem, and plan to escalate the issue to the National Green Tribunal.
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Editor,
Nayla Khwaja
Communication Officer