Tribal people living in…Madhya Pradesh are in the vanguard of last ditch efforts to save…Mahan forests from being wiped out…They say that construction of a power plant under a joint venture between two private companies - Essar and Hindalco - would lead to the destruction of the…salwood forests… displace residents of at least 14 villages dependent on the Mahan forests for natural produce, including mahua, tendu leaves and karanj that are crucial to their livelihoods….Locals allege that clearance was granted on the basis of a forged resolution by a special village council meeting in Amelia on March 6 last year attended by only 184 people. The copy of the resolution shows 1,125 signatures - which villagers claim may have been forged….Ramakant Tiwari, the chief executive of Mahan Coal Limited, told…that the company had obtained all the necessary permissions for forest clearance from the environment ministry, approvals for mining from the coal ministry, and the backing of the local state administration.