Chandrapur:
An agitation is building up at the lesser known Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra against a state a government decision to open up 5,000 hectares of the forestland for mining coal.
The stir has now caught the attention of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
On Friday, the PMO questioned the validity of these allotments, especially the mammoth chunk proposed to be given to Gujarat's Adani Group.
"Centre has not cleared these mines," said Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests.
According to the proposal, five mines, right in the middle of the forest, will threaten not just the 100-odd tigers but ground water reserves. In fact the entire eco-system.
And the largest block of land is given to the Adani Group. This allotment spilled over the buffer zone around the tiger reserve. The allocation has been challenged in the High Court.
"In 1999, similar proposals by ACC and Nippon Denro were categorically rejected mentioning that the area falls under forest land and no such activity can be permitted," said advocate Niraj Khandewale, counsel for the petitioner.
Just adjacent to the city of Chandrapur, these thick forests are a part of the southward corridor that is essential for the tigers for their breeding and survival.
"If this corridor is lost, then the tiger breeding will be severely disturbed," said Ashish Ghume, a wildlife activist.
The Maharashtra government wants to push these proposals to ease the power shortage, but the Environment Ministry says no coal blocks that violate forest laws will get a green signal.
The animals pushed to a corner have lashed back again and again. Now, activists hope that the PMO's intervention will go in their favour.