Massive Anti-Mining Protest Erupts in Ambikapur as Villagers Defend Gram Sabha Rights
RAIPUR: Thousands of villagers, tribal groups, farmers, students, and environmental activists poured onto the streets of Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja division on Friday, staging a massive public mobilisation against large-scale mining projects and alleged violations of Gram Sabha rights across the region. The protest reflected growing anger over what demonstrators described as unchecked expansion of mining activities and systematic disregard for constitutional protections in Scheduled Areas.
The rally, followed by a public meeting, was convened by the Hasdeo Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA), and allied organisations. Protesters from multiple districts—Koriya, Balrampur, Raigarh, Korba, and Surguja—joined the mobilisation, uniting tribals, farmers, workers, women, and students under a common demand: stop the destruction of forests, water sources, land, biodiversity, and livelihoods.
‘Jal–Jungle–Zameen’ Under Threat
At the heart of the protest was the claim that generations of communities in northern Chhattisgarh have survived on jal–jungle–zameen (water, forest, and land), but are now facing forced displacement as coal, bauxite, graphite, lithium, and other mining projects expand rapidly.
“Chhattisgarh is a Fifth Schedule state. The Forest Rights Act (FRA) and PESA are in force here and must be followed in letter and spirit,” said Bhanupratap Singh, former chairperson of the State Scheduled Tribes Commission. “No land acquisition will be accepted without the consent of the Gram Sabha,” he added, addressing the gathering.
Speakers repeatedly stressed that constitutional safeguards meant to protect Adivasi communities were being bypassed through administrative orders and special laws, undermining local self-governance.
Hasdeo Aranya at the Centre of Resistance
The Hasdeo Aranya forest region emerged as a central flashpoint during the protest. Sunita Porte, a prominent Hasdeo Bachao activist, reminded participants that the Chhattisgarh Assembly had unanimously resolved in July 2022 to cancel all coal mining projects in the Hasdeo region.
She also cited a 2021 recommendation by the Wildlife Institute of India, which advised that the entire Hasdeo landscape be kept mining-free to prevent escalation of human–elephant conflict.
“Despite this, the state has recommended the Kente Extension coal project, which will require the cutting of more than six lakh trees,” Porte said. She alleged that forged Gram Sabha resolutions were used to secure forest clearance for the Parsa coal block, and that tree felling continues “under police protection.”
Water Security and Tourism at Risk
Villagers from Mainpat, a plateau region known for its ecological importance, tourism value, and role as a major water catchment area, warned that proposed bauxite mining leases could trigger a severe drinking water crisis.
“Mining in Mainpat will directly affect water sources feeding Ambikapur and surrounding areas,” residents said, adding that tourism livelihoods would also be severely impacted.
Similarly, residents from villages in Wadrafnagar block, where graphite surveys are underway, accused officials of pushing ahead with exploration despite Gram Sabha opposition. Some alleged that villagers were being threatened with jail for protesting.
‘Coal Bearing Areas Act Is Being Used to Snatch Our Rights’
Anger over the use of central legislation to override local consent featured prominently in the speeches. Babulal, a resident of Madanpur village affected by the Gare Palma IV coal block, said the community felt stripped of its rights.
“The Adivasi is the real owner of the forest and land, and the Constitution protects us,” he said. “Using the Coal Bearing Areas Act to snatch our rights is nothing but open loot.”
Protesters argued that such laws were being deployed to fast-track mining projects while sidelining Gram Sabha consent mandated under PESA and FRA.
Memorandum to Chief Minister
A detailed memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reiterated several key demands. These include cancelling forest and environmental clearances for the Kente Extension coal project, stopping land acquisition and surveys for mining projects in Madanpur and Amera, scrapping new bauxite mining proposals in Mainpat, halting graphite surveys in Balrampur villages, and withdrawing what protesters described as “false” criminal cases against activists.
The memorandum also demanded strict enforcement of prior, informed Gram Sabha consent for all projects in Fifth Schedule areas.
The letter warned that degradation of the ecologically sensitive Hasdeo Aranya has already put the Minimata Hasdeo Bango dam at risk and sharply increased human–elephant conflict. Protesters claimed that elephant attacks linked to habitat loss have resulted in “hundreds of deaths” over recent years.
Warning of Escalation
As slogans such as “Stop cutting our forests” and “Stop looting Chhattisgarh’s mineral wealth” echoed through Ambikapur, protesters issued a clear warning to the authorities.
“If our demands are ignored, we will come back in thousands and start an indefinite movement,” one protester declared, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
The scale of the mobilisation underlined growing resistance to mining-led development in tribal regions, signalling that the issue is likely to remain politically and socially charged in the months ahead.
Our Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The Ambikapur mobilisation underscores a deeper conflict between extractive development and constitutional rights in India’s Scheduled Areas. What stands out is not just opposition to mining, but a broader assertion of Gram Sabha authority and environmental justice. As critical minerals gain strategic importance, the pressure on tribal landscapes will only increase. The challenge for policymakers lies in reconciling economic ambitions with legal safeguards and ecological realities. Ignoring local consent may speed up projects, but it risks long-term instability, environmental damage, and a widening trust deficit with communities that have protected these forests for generations.