RAIPUR: Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel has defended Hasdeo Coal Mining Project in the Hasdeo Aranya region, saying that coal is essential to meet the country’s growing energy requirements, but it should be done in keeping with the environmental norms and affected people should be rehabilitated. Tribal and environmental groups have been protesting against the continuation of mining operations citing loss of forest and habitat.
Baghel was responding to a question by the reporters, before leaving for his second phase of meet-and-greet programme in the tribal Bastar region. According to him, the situation is pretty dire at present as passenger trains are being cancelled for want of coal. The mining needs to continue to meet the electricity requirements as well.