On 26 June 2025, over 5,000 trees were cut in a large-scale felling operation in the villages of Mudgaon and Saraitola in the lead-up to the development of the Gare Palma Sector II coal mine in Raigarh district. As villagers and administrative officials alike gathered at the site of the felling, the operation was carried out under a massive police and security presence. Locals voiced their outrage, emphasising that these forests are vital to their heritage. Seven people, including a local MLA, were detained during the protest and they were later released.
Speaking to The Wire, a member of the Chhattisgarh Association for Justice and Equality (CAJE) said that the detained individuals were given no reason for their detention and were held for a whole day at a local range office. Villagers also alleged that the felling had begun without their consent or the completion of due legal processes, including Gram Sabha approvals under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
The opencast mine, owned by the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO) with Adani Group subsidiary Gare Palma II Collieries Pvt Ltd as Mine Operator & Developer (MDO), is scheduled to yield 655 million metric tonnes of coal. Along with the diversion of 215 hectares of forest, the project aims to acquire 2,584 hectares of land, directly affecting 14 tribal-majority villages in the surrounding areas.
Protests regarding the project date back to as early as 2015, with more notable demonstrations taking place in 2019 when the public hearing as part of the Impact Assessment procedure was conducted under faulty grounds. The hearing was held in Dolesara village and representatives of only 6 out of the 14 villages were in attendance. Protests included mass marches and sit-ins, under the banner Mehnatkash Majdoor Kisan Ekta Samiti, with affected people asserting that procedures of the FRA and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, were violated. Despite these concerns, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) provided an Environmental Clearance (EC) to the project in 2022.
In 2019, four petitioners from affected villages, including Rinchin and Premshila Rathia, filed a challenge before the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT, on its part, quashed the EC, ruling the public hearing had excluded dissenting voices and ignored vital health and environmental studies. The tribunal demanded a fresh consultation process.
Six months later, MAHAGENCO approached the EAC to reconsider the EC, and the Ministry of Environment reissued the clearance for the project—despite the NGT ruling—claiming the original hearing was lawfully conducted.
As on 22 August 2025, the project is well underway and is set to displace over 1,600 families from their lands.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Complaint against procedural violations
Opposition against environmental degradation
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Refusal to give up land for the project
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
7
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from detention
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Residential area, Water bodies, Religious/Sacred/Cultural value
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
7642
Type of investment:
Investment Expected
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Violation of free prior informed consent
Violation of environmental laws
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
National Green Tribunal
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
NGT APPEAL NO.26/2022(CZ)
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Seven people, including a local MLA, were detained during the protest and they were later released.
Date of Violation
June 25, 2025
Location of Violation
Mudagaon
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Forest Department, MOEFCC
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Mehnatkash Majdoor Kisan Ekta Samiti, Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, Chhattisgarh Association for Justice and Equality
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
7
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from detention
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
