The Forest Advisory Committee under the Union Environment Ministry has granted in-principle approval for a Rs. 250-crore private mining project in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, a region long beset by Naxalite activity. The proposal calls for establishing a beneficiation plant to process hematite and quartzite, necessitating diversion of 2,315 acres of dense forest land. Crucially, the site falls within a designated tiger corridor and would require felling approximately 123,000 trees.
The Maharashtra government had already cleared the project at the state level in 2024, framing it as a strategic initiative for regional development, job creation, and enhanced security. Proponents highlight that the mine could employ around 3,500 workers, boost local revenue, and improve access for security forces combating insurgent movements. They point to the operational Surjagarh mining venture as a successful model, which has reportedly stimulated economic growth and strengthened safety in neighboring areas.
If approved, the mine will rank among the largest industrial undertakings in Gadchiroli, underscoring the state’s push to harness mineral resources despite security and environmental risks. Nevertheless, final clearance from the National Board for Wildlife is still required due to the project’s location within a critical wildlife corridor. Environmentalists and tribal rights groups have vowed to contest the proposal, warning of irreversible impacts on biodiversity, tiger migration routes, and communities dependent on the forest. The Wildlife Board is slated to review the case later this year, with stakeholders awaiting its decision on balancing conservation with development.
