Kente Extension Coal Block: Chhattisgarh’s Forest Card Stamped for Adani’s Expansion

The SanvaadGarh | Chhattisgarh

The scenic Hasdeo Arand forest known as the lungs of Central India is teetering on ecological collapse. Chhattisgarh’s Forest Department has recommended diverting 1,742.60 hectares of dense forest, risking 4.5 to 6 lakh trees, for the Kente Extension coal block project. This isn’t just a clearance – it’s a betrayal of laws, ecosystems, and indigenous voices.

The Deal in Detail: Who, What, When?

• Proposed by RRVUNL (Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd) with Adani Enterprises as Mine Developer & Operator (MDO).
• On June 26, 2025, Surguja’s DFO conducted a field inspection, recommending diversion of 1,742.60 hectares – 99% dense forest with 4,48,874 trees at risk.
• Kedarnath Ramgarh archaeological site and Lemru Elephant Reserve are within 11 km, sparking biodiversity and heritage concerns.

Why This Is Not Just Another Coal Block

• In July 2022, the Chhattisgarh Assembly unanimously resolved to halt Hasdeo Arand deforestation; the previous Congress government blocked this clearance, but the BJP-led government reversed it.
• NGOs like Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan report thousands of public objections were ignored by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), allegedly due to manipulated Gram Sabha reports.

Beyond Trees: Biodiversity Under Threat

• Hasdeo Arand spans 1.7 lakh hectares, hosting 82 bird species, tigers, elephants, and endangered butterflies.
• It’s the catchment for the Charnoi River and Hasdeo Bango dam, irrigating over 3 lakh hectares.
• Wildlife experts warn Lemru Elephant Reserve’s buffer (10 km) was redrawn to exclude new mining zones, hinting at governance capture.

SanvaadGarh demands real answers, and real accountability from state and central governments, from RRVUNL, Adani, and every authority rubber-stamping the death warrant of Hasdeo Arand.