In a renewed attack, the Congress has criticized the BJP over the alleged deforestation and ongoing tree cutting in the Hasdev Aranya area. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has accused the BJP government of initiating indiscriminate tree felling after coming to power. He claims that new mines are being opened, leading to the degradation of the forest ecosystem. Despite opposition protests and a proposal for a stay on tree cutting, the government remains unresponsive, intensifying concerns about the environmental impact and the displacement of thousands of Adivasi families.
Bhupesh Baghel further revealed that the opposition had brought a proposal for a stay on the Hasdev tree cutting. The decision to refrain from opening coal blocks in the Hasdev Aranya region had been unanimously passed in the state assembly, and a letter was sent to the Indian government accordingly. However, post the formation of the new government, indiscriminate tree cutting has resumed, raising alarms about the environmental consequences. This includes the imminent felling of lakhs of trees and the potential shutdown of the Bango dam, affecting irrigation in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa, Sakti, Raigarh, Bilaspur, and Korba districts.
Bhupesh Baghel expressed his concerns about the adverse impact on the people of Chhattisgarh, emphasizing that their voices were not heard, leading to protests and even self-suspension in the Legislative Assembly. Regarding Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming Justice Yatra in Chhattisgarh, Baghel stated that they eagerly await the impact it will have, especially as it commences from Rayagada in Odisha on February 11, followed by a continuous journey through Sakti, Korba, Surguja, and Balrampur from February 11.
Addressing the expenses related to helicopters from the previous government, Bhupesh Baghel clarified that tenders for aircraft and helicopter rentals were routine, and the current government follows a similar process. He highlighted that the state government had previously acquired a second-hand helicopter from the previous government, which eventually crashed. Subsequently, private helicopters were procured, and their expenses adhered to legal procedures. Baghel invited scrutiny and assured that if any discrepancies were found in the tender process, they would be rectified.
In response to Baghel’s allegations, the BJP maintains its stance on the legality of the tree-cutting process and dismisses the accusations of environmental degradation and procedural irregularities. The controversy surrounding the Hasdev Aranya deforestation underscores the complex intersection of environmental conservation, resource extraction, and political discourse, with the people of Chhattisgarh caught in the midst of this multifaceted issue.
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