Katghora | The SanvaadGarh
India is accelerating toward a clean energy future, with Chhattisgarh at the forefront. In June 2024, the country’s first lithium block was auctioned in Katghora, a tribal-majority area in Korba district. The winning bidder, Maiki South Mining Pvt. Ltd., secured the deal at a 76.05% revenue share premium.
The lithium revolution has begun, but beneath the promise of green energy lies a familiar story—of potential displacement, environmental risks, and questions about tribal inclusion. Who truly benefits when the state prioritizes sustainability over its people?
📍 Katghora: A Resource-Rich, Rights-Poor Zone
The auctioned block spans approximately 250 hectares, with Geological Survey of India (GSI) surveys confirming lithium concentrations of 10–2,000 ppm (parts per million), making it one of India’s most significant lithium finds.
Katghora, part of the Hasdeo Arand forest corridor and a Fifth Schedule area, is home to tribal communities. The region is already strained by coal mining, raising concerns about further ecological and social impacts.
“They say it will bring jobs. But who will be left to take them once the land and water are gone?” — Rajbai Korram, a local resident of Katghora.
🧾 The Company: Who Is Maiki South Mining?
Maiki South Mining Pvt. Ltd., a Kolkata-based firm incorporated in 2021, outbid major players in India’s first critical minerals auction tranche. The company lacks a public track record in lithium mining or detailed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) credentials, raising concerns about its capacity to manage a project of this scale responsibly.
Red Flag: Limited transparency regarding Maiki’s community engagement or environmental mitigation plans.
🌍 Environmental & Social Cost: What’s at Stake?
⚠️ Forest and Biodiversity Loss
The Katghora block is near the Hasdeo Arand and Lemru elephant corridors, ecologically sensitive areas. Lithium mining, often involving open-pit excavation and significant water use, risks forest degradation and water contamination. No public Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Katghora block has been released as of June 2025.
⚠️ Displacement & Consent
The Forest Rights Act (FRA) and Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) mandate Gram Sabha consent for mining in tribal areas. No public record confirms such consent for the Katghora auction, and locals report being uninformed.
“We learned about lithium from newspapers, not the panchayat. Is this the new development model?” — Ramesh Netam, local sarpanch.
📊 Deep Data Dive: Revenue vs. Redistribution
| Year | Chhattisgarh Mineral Revenue (₹ Crore) | % from Critical Minerals (Est.) | Per Capita Tribal Development Spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | ₹4,279 | 0% | ₹1,200 |
| 2023–24 | ₹13,000 (est.) | 4% | ₹1,425 |
| 2024–25 | ₹15,000+ (projected) | 8% | TBD |
Chhattisgarh’s mineral revenue has surged, partly due to critical mineral auctions like lithium. However, tribal welfare spending has not proportionally increased, raising questions about equitable redistribution.
🧠 The Legal Loopholes
The Moolvasi Bachao Manch, a tribal rights group questioning the Katghora auction, was declared an “unlawful organization” under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA) on November 8, 2024, for opposing development activities and security camps. Critics argue this ban suppresses dissent and undermines democratic engagement.
- PESA Compliance: No public reports confirm adherence to PESA’s Gram Sabha consent requirements.
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): The EIA for the Katghora lithium block remains unpublished, despite excavation activities beginning in April 2025.
💡 What This Means for India’s Energy Future
India’s electric vehicle (EV) ambitions hinge on lithium, but prioritizing mineral extraction over indigenous rights and ecosystems risks replicating past mining conflicts. Chhattisgarh aims to transition from a state associated with Naxalism and mining disputes to a hub for green technology, but transparency, consultation, and fair compensation are critical to avoid repeating historical injustices.
❗ The SanvaadGarh Verdict
“Green minerals cannot come from red zones unless we address the root causes of conflict.”
We will continue to investigate:
- Land acquisition processes and Gram Sabha documentation.
- Water usage, tailing dump plans, and environmental impacts.
- Maiki South Mining’s hiring practices and local employment commitments.
Stay with us as we follow the lithium trail from Korba to Delhi.
Be the first to comment