Perfectly splendid! An Indian environmental activist has been awarded the 'Green Nobel,' for preventing 21 coal mines from destroying a 657 square-mile forest. Almost nobody in India is immune to sporadic blackouts; they affect everyone, from the New Delhi train station to upscale hotels to the most impoverished neighborhoods. Power generating of various kinds is being deployed in large amounts as part of the Modi regime's goal for an economically powerful and developed India. Some of the biggest solar energy projects in the world have been a part of this endeavor, although coal is also used. India is one of the biggest users of coal for the production of electricity, and significant amounts are believed to exist in the Hasdeo Aranya woods, also referred to as the "Lungs of Chhattisgarh."


Hasdeo Aranya Forest is one of the most biodiverse in the country 
(Source ~ Google Images) 

Care For Nature~ 
21 proposed coal mining blocks covering 445,000 acres of biodiverse forests—which are vital natural resources for the 15,000 indigenous Adivasi people living in the area—have been the subject of an investigation by the state administration. In addition to the Adivasi, this forest is home to numerous endemic bird and reptile species, tigers, elephants, sloth bears, leopards, and wolves. One of the biggest remaining arboreal habitats in India was in danger of being destroyed due to 5.6 billion metric tons of mineable coal. Here's Alok Shukla, the creator of the Save Hasdeo Aranya Resistance Committee. The group was founded ten years ago and has since advocated for Hasdeo's protection through a range of media and protest campaigns, such as sit-ins, tree-hugging campaigns, encouraging couples to include #savehasdeo on their wedding invitations, and posting a wide range of other content on social media. Shukla also addressed the legislature directly, reminding them via press reports of their duties under the Indian constitution, which upholds the protection of tribal people and the surroundings necessary for them to carry on with their customary ways of life.


Shukla worked closely with some 15,000 members of tribal groups in Hasdeo forests 
(Source: Google Images) 

Shukla and the Adivasi started a 160-mile protest march down a national highway towards Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh state, proposing to cancel three of the 21 mining proposals and create a single protected area within Hasdeo called Lemru elephant reserve. Astonishingly, not only was the elephant reserve idea approved by all, but the state legislature had rejected every coal mining proposal that had been put forth and all permits held would be revoked before they had even reached the halfway point. 

Recalling, Shukla addresses the Goldman Prize media outlet. ~“That was a very important moment and a happy moment for all of us.” Shukla shares the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize with 5 other winners, from Brazil, the US, South Africa, Australia, and Spain.