Environmental activist Alok Shukla led a sustained community campaign that helped save approximately 4.45 lakh acres of biodiversity-rich Hasdeo Aranya forests in Chhattisgarh from 21 proposed coal mines. In July 2022, the state government cancelled the 21 proposed coal blocks following years of protests, village-level mobilisation and advocacy by forest-dwelling communities.
Shukla, convenor of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and a founding member of the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, was awarded the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia in recognition of his efforts to protect the forests and support Adivasi communities.
A Forest Supporting Thousands Of Lives
Spread across 657 square miles, Hasdeo Aranya is one of India’s largest contiguous forest regions and an important ecological corridor. Often described as the lungs of Chhattisgarh, the forests provide a critical tiger corridor connecting neighbouring wildlife sanctuaries and serve as habitat for approximately 50 endangered Asian elephants. The region is also home to 25 endangered species, including leopards, sloth bears, grey wolves and striped hyenas, alongside 92 bird species and 167 rare and medicinal plant species.
Beyond its biodiversity, Hasdeo Aranya plays an important role in sustaining agriculture and local communities. The Hasdeo River flows into the Mahanadi River and forms part of the watershed supporting the Hasdeo Bango reservoir, which irrigates approximately 7.41 lakh acres of farmland.
Nearly 15,000 Adivasi people depend on these forests for their livelihoods, cultural identity and everyday sustenance. However, the region also contains an estimated 5.6 billion tonnes of coal beneath its forest cover, making it an important area for mining interests. Chhattisgarh contributes more than 21% of India’s coal production, while coal remains a major source of the country’s electricity generation.
Years Of Resistance Against Mining
Shukla’s campaign began after he visited the Hasdeo River region in late 2011 and learnt about the government’s plans to auction coal blocks beneath the forests. Realising that many affected communities had limited information about mining procedures and their legal rights, he began helping villagers understand possible legal strategies and organise their opposition. This led to the formation of the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti in 2012, bringing forest-dwelling communities together under a common movement.
The campaign gained momentum in 2020 when several coal auctions were announced. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Shukla continued organising village-level protests against the proposed projects. In September 2020, sustained opposition helped secure the withdrawal of three mines from public auction. In October 2020, he also mobilised villagers to approach local legislative councils to seek the designation of 9.45 lakh acres as the Lemru elephant reserve. The movement reached another milestone in October 2021, when Shukla led a 166-mile march to Raipur alongside approximately 500 villagers, following which another 14 mines were cancelled.
The campaign also gained national attention through the hashtag #SaveHasdeo, inspiring solidarity activities, including bicycle rallies and public awareness initiatives. In 2022, villagers organised indefinite sit-ins and tree-hugging protests against the proposed felling of 300 trees cleared for mining projects. Shukla also met government representatives, held press conferences in New Delhi, participated in media interviews and submitted letters and petitions.
In July 2022, the Chhattisgarh legislature adopted a resolution opposing mining across the entire Hasdeo Aranya region and demanding the cancellation of existing allocations. The state government subsequently cancelled all 21 proposed coal blocks. During the campaign, Madhuresh Kumar, national convenor of the National Alliance of People’s Movements, raised concerns about emergency provisions that could bypass community consent and public hearings while fast-tracking forest and land clearances.
He explained: “The land acquisition law says that if a project is deemed to be of national importance, certain provisions can be bypassed, including community consent or requirements to hold a public hearing, and forest and land clearances can be fast tracked.”
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The struggle to protect Hasdeo Aranya highlights the importance of community participation in environmental decision-making. Forests are not merely natural resources; they sustain biodiversity, livelihoods, water systems and the cultural identity of Indigenous communities. While economic development and energy requirements remain important considerations, they must be balanced with ecological protection and the rights of people whose lives depend on these landscapes.
Decisions concerning forests should involve meaningful consultation with affected communities, ensuring that their concerns and traditional knowledge are heard. Alok Shukla’s campaign demonstrates how collective action, sustained dialogue and peaceful resistance can bring environmental concerns into public policy. Protecting nature requires cooperation between communities, governments and other stakeholders.
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