India: Can Mindless Mining, Denial Of Forest Rights Fuel Insurgency?
"Can Mindless Mining, Denial Of Forest Rights Fuel Insurgency?" 1 June 2023
...
Here lies Bailadila, one of India’s large mines known for export quality iron ore. Since the late 1960s the mineral has been extracted by the National Mineral Development Corporation, a government entity.
Chhattisgarh, a landlocked central Indian state, is rich in minerals. But over the years, its forest cover which stands at 45 percent, has come under threat due to this.
Data provided by the forest department reveals 25,000 hectares of forest have been diverted due to developmental projects from 2001 to 2022. Of this mining is a major factor with 13,925 hectares diverted for it.
...
Bastar has been home to different tribal communities since time immemorial. Their link with the forest is a unique cultural identity. But in the region this is at stake. Activists point out that mines will destroy Bastar’s forests, and with it end the relationship between people living close to natural resources.