Hasdeo Aranya Jungle , a tale of pain for tribal community.
India has marked its significant identity on the world map for its forest conservation techniques, a policy that embarks on the livelihood of indigenous people, a process that creates an ecosystem for animals and human beings together. but right the news of the deforestation of Hasdeo Aranya Jungle getting the limelight for different reasons.
Hasdeo Aranya Jungle:
The forest is home to 82 species of birds, 167 varieties of vegetation out of which 18 are considered threatened, and endangered butterfly species. The forest is a habitat and a major migratory corridor for elephants, and has had confirmed sightings of tigers. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education has described it as “the largest un-fragmented forest in Central India consisting of pristine Sal and teak forests.”The forest also acts as the water catchment area for the Hasdeo river, thus maintaining its perennial flow.
Its start from border of Anuppur district in Madhya Pradesh State and spread over Korba, Surajpur and Surguja district of Chhattisgarh. and Hasdeo river also flows through this jungle.
The Hasdeo Arand forest is estimated to be home to 10,000 people from the Gond, Oraon and other tribes. A Wildlife Institute of India report also estimated that around 60–70% of the annual income of the local communities came from forest based resources.
Indian Government has proposed to mine the coalfield
Indian Government has proposed to mine the coalfield which will result in destruction of forest land .According to Proposed plan it has to cut at least one lakh trees where more than 30000 grown trees have been cut till now and rest of are in queue to clean the forest for mining projects.
As per reports the coal which will be mined it will be sent to Rajasthan for electricity project after cutting several trees for so called development plans .
Tribals hails from forest range Protesting to save Hasdeo Aranya
To save the wildlife and its ecosystem tribals hails from forest range started Protest , they are living day and night to stop the cutting trees , placard and slogans are raised to spread the awareness but nothing has been done by government to stop the deforestation bigil. it is very peaceful protest, Government says all the jungles belong to Junglbasi but backside this artificial development plan structure also getting stage which is really a curse to dream of green India movement , the Jungle is really a hope for the people , it is one of clean oxygen cylinder which gives life to the people living here .
Government can be heard saying, “I assure Adivasis that your jal, jangal, and zameen (water, forests, and land) will not be threatened”. but poor tribes are forced to live in dismay.
Need Help to protect Hasdeo Aranya
Previously Big movement has been witnessed to save the wildlife and protect jungle from such development model , like Chipko Movement, Aarey “Aarey is rightly called the lungs of Mumbai and plays a vital role in regulating the city’s air quality” these were tagline to save the Jungle of Aarey but for Hasdeo Aranya nothing such big protest help has been added with few tribal community who are really fighting with top spirit.
The Hasdeo is being destroyed at an alarming rate. This destruction is a threat to Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities, to the biodiversity of the forest, and the global climate.
We must protect the Hasdeo & stand with its defenders!#SaveHasdeo #StopAdani… pic.twitter.com/gwpjMGJKRq
— Tribal Army (@TribalArmy) December 30, 2023
Destruction of Haseo Aranya
This particular incident start with Congress CM Bhupesh Baghel, though Congress was not in favour to support the deforestation but then CM Baghel said we need power for daily utilities , this is only way to make this happen and after election result the first thing that has done government in power to start the cutting trees campaign .
The roar of chainsaws in Hasdeo Aranya
Hasdeo forest should be kept mining free.
Save Hasdeo forest for nature, water crisis and climate change in india #Chhattisgarh #hasdev#हसदेव_जंगल_बचाओ pic.twitter.com/bhNobBHez9
— Dhanesh Saroj 🇮🇳 (@Dhaneshmzp) December 25, 2023
Wildlife stranded animals now entering villages
Residents now keep vigil through the night, wielding torches to deter wild elephants stranded in the area due to the clamour of petrol-powered chainsaws in the neighbouring Pendramar-Ghatbarra forests. The intrusion of the hapless elephants has caused distress and financial devastation to humans, damaging houses and standing food crops, as reported by local forest officials.
There are also accounts of stranded elephants impeding traffic on highways near the forests earmarked for mining. Alok Putul, a senior journalist based in Raipur, shared a picture of two baby bears on X, noting that “both of them were found in the same Surguja forest where Hasdeo Arand is being destroyed”.