Why is there stiff opposition to the auction of Tara Coal Block in Chhattisgarh? Explained

The story so far: Of the six coal blocks successfully auctioned last month by the Union Ministry of Coal, one is the Tara (revised) coal block in Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo Aranya region. It has reignited the debate on mining in the ecologically sensitive region, with the Opposition Congress and environmental activists flagging concerns on the impact of mining and the deforestation associated with it, which can be detrimental to the interests of the mainly tribal population residing around the proposed mining site(s). Calling the exercise an ‘ecocide’, they have warned of the impact of mining on the Lemru Elephant Reserve mining, around which would severely disrupt the migratory corridor of elephants. Those opposed to mining have also highlighted how the Tara coal block was excluded from auction in July 2023 after the Chhattisgarh Government raised concerns. The Ministry, however, says the block — that was auctioned off under the 15th round of commercial coal mining auction — was considered for auction again only after the State Government’s communication in December 2025 and after revision of the block boundary. The change in the party in power between the two dates mentioned has also formed the basis of a political debate in which the BJP and the Congress are both accusing each other of hiding facts. What are the objections?Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel claimed that the Tara coal block spans an area of ​​approximately 5,000 acres, of which over 4,000 acres consist of dense forest. More than a million trees will be completely felled for this project, he said. Mining operations surrounding the Lemru Elephant Reserve will severely impact the migratory paths of elephants — India’s national heritage animal — at a time when their population is already facing a crisis, he added. Numerous other species will also be placed at greater risk.Environmental activists such as Alok Shukla from the Chhattisgarh Bachao Aandolan (CBA) pointed out that the issue can’t be seen in isolation as it ties in with the larger issue of forest conservation in Hasdeo Aranya — which lies in the catchment area of the Hasdeo river and spans across 1,878 sq km in North-Central Chhattisgarh. The Hasdeo river is a tributary of the Mahanadi river which originates in Chhattisgarh and flows through Odisha into the Bay of Bengal. This landscape contains some of the most intact and biodiversity-rich forests of Chhattisgarh. It forms an important elephant habitat and lies in the broader landscape of the Lemru Elephant Reserve. Its forests are home to elephants and 450+ other species, including over 20 critically endangered species, while also sustaining Adivasi and other forest-dependent communities whose livelihoods, culture, and social life are deeply connected to the forest, said Mr. Shukla.The larger issueMr. Baghel and Mr. Shukla have also referred to the past stands by the State government and the Legislative Assembly against the mining in Tara block and the overall issue of mining and deforestation in the Hasdeo region. The former Chief Minister has claimed that the current Bharatiya Janata Party government in the State — led by Vishnu Deo Sai — had written to the Ministry of Coal regarding the auction of the Tara coal block in the Hasdeo Arand region and that in contrast, his own Congress government had written a letter on June 23, 2023, requesting that nine coal blocks — including Tara — be excluded from the auction process. On July 16, 2023, the Congress government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court explicitly stating that there was no need for the allocation or development of any new mines in Hasdeo Arand, Mr. Baghel stated. The Union Ministry of Coal had effectively de-notified 40 coal blocks on October 19, 2023 — including Tara — from the auction process, Mr. Baghel claimed.In this auction, the Tara coal block has been awarded to a company named CG Syn-Gas and Chemicals Limited, which is a subsidiary of Mundra Synergy Limited — an associate company of Adani Enterprises Limited, he said at a press conference in Raipur on September 15. He alleged that since the BJP government came to power in Chhattisgarh, its water, forests, and land are being handed over to the conglomerate.The former CM demanded an explanation from the BJP on why their government recommended the Tara coal block for auction. Mr. Shukla recalled how the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution on July 26, 2022, demanding that no further coal blocks be allocated or auctioned in Hasdeo Arand. At a time when the government has set lofty targets for increasing the share of renewable energy resources, is there any rationale behind coal mining in biodiversity rich areas, he questioned.A long struggleThe CBA has put forth the argument that the people of Hasdeo have protected these forests for generations and are not an expendable coal reserve. They have called the auction of Tara a grave step backwards for Chhattisgarh and for India’s environmental governance. Among their key demands, one is an immediate cancellation of the auction and allocation of the Tara (Revised) coal block and a complete halt to all further coal mining expansion in the Hasdeo-Aranya landscape. The counterThe Union Coal Ministry said that the December 2025 letter from the Government of Chhattisgarh to include the Tara coal block stated that “the coal block is outside the Lemru Elephant Corridor, and the coal block may be offered in the upcoming tranche of auction”. It underlined that the coal block is expected to generate annual revenue of more than ₹1200 crore to the State and grant employment to more than 8000 people.The Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation, in a separate statement, asserted that before mining could commence, the various stages of forest clearance will have to be completed. The environmental impacts of the project will also be assessed in accordance with the prescribed norms, it said. No tree felling or actual mining activity can take place before the requisite statutory approvals are obtained, the CMDC added. The process relating to allocation and mining of coal blocks in the Hasdeo-Arand region has been underway for several years, it further highlighted.According to the CMDC, the Tara Coal Block was allocated to the Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation in 2011. Subsequently, as a consequence of the Supreme Court’s order, its earlier allocation was cancelled along with those of other coal blocks.