Environmental Lawyer for Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is one of India's main sources of coal and iron ore and a major producer of steel, sponge iron, aluminium, cement and thermal power. Large parts of the state are forested and inhabited by Adivasi communities, many in Fifth Schedule areas. This combination makes environmental work in Chhattisgarh focused on mining approvals, forest diversion, forest rights, air pollution from steel and sponge iron clusters, and fly ash from thermal power plants.

The state's pollution regulator is the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board, which exercises the powers of a state board under the Water and Air Acts. The proposed and ongoing coal mining in the Hasdeo Arand forests, one of central India's largest contiguous forest areas, has been the subject of protests, litigation and debate. Environmental cases from Chhattisgarh go to the NGT's Central Zone Bench in Bhopal and to the Chhattisgarh High Court at Bilaspur. We advise clients through online consultation, with local counsel on brief.

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Chhattisgarh at a glance

Mining and forest diversion

Coal blocks in north Chhattisgarh, including in the Hasdeo Arand forests, require environmental clearance, forest clearance for diversion of forest land, and settlement of forest rights with gram sabha involvement. The Hasdeo region is ecologically sensitive, with elephant habitats and catchment of the Hasdeo Bango reservoir, and the state notified the Lemru elephant reserve in part of the area. Proposals in such areas face detailed scrutiny and challenges from communities on gram sabha consent and forest rights. Iron ore mining in the Bailadila hills of Dantewada also involves forest and tribal issues.

Mining companies should ensure that each block's EC, forest clearance stages, forest rights certificates and gram sabha resolutions are complete and genuine, because defects have been the basis of challenges. See forest clearance.

Steel, sponge iron and air quality

Sponge iron plants, steel re-rolling mills, ferro-alloy units and power plants in clusters such as Siltara and Urla near Raipur, and around Raigarh and Durg-Bhilai, generate dust, particulate emissions and solid waste. The CECB has acted against units with inadequate dust control, non-functional electrostatic precipitators and improper waste disposal. Units should run their air pollution control devices continuously, maintain online monitoring where required, manage char and dolochar and other wastes, and keep records. See closure notice reply.

Fly ash from thermal plants

Korba and other districts host many coal-fired power plants that generate large quantities of fly ash. The environment ministry's fly ash notifications require plants to ensure utilisation of fly ash, with penalties for shortfalls, and regulate ash ponds and transport. Breaches of ash pond dykes and dumping of ash have led to NGT proceedings and compensation. Thermal plants should track utilisation, maintain ash ponds safely and use covered transport. Users of fly ash, such as brick makers and road contractors, can benefit from the utilisation obligations.

How we help clients in Chhattisgarh

Forest rights and PESA

In Fifth Schedule areas, the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 gives gram sabhas a role in decisions on land acquisition and resources, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognises individual and community forest rights. Chhattisgarh has granted community forest resource rights in many villages. Projects affecting such areas must follow the processes for consultation and consent, and disputes over these processes are common. Documented, genuine engagement is not only a legal requirement but also the best protection against later challenges.

Time and typical cost

Our fees are agreed in writing at the start, stage by stage. They are not linked to the outcome.

Regulators and forums in Chhattisgarh

Documents usually needed

Laws that apply

How we work

We are a litigation and advisory practice led by Advocate BK Singh, with offices in Dwarka (New Delhi) and Vaishali (Ghaziabad). This is what you can expect:

• Online consultation: quick review of your documents.
• Mining and forest focus: EC, forest and rights.
• Industrial cluster experience: steel, sponge iron and power.
• NGT Bhopal matters: coordinated through our network.
• Written fee terms: agreed stage by stage, never linked to the outcome.

Mistakes we see in Chhattisgarh

Elephants and human conflict

North Chhattisgarh's forests, in Surguja, Korba, Raigarh and Jashpur, have growing elephant populations that move through coal-bearing areas, leading to human-elephant conflict and deaths on both sides. The Lemru elephant reserve was notified to protect part of this landscape, and wildlife bodies have recommended keeping some coal blocks out of mining. Mining and industrial projects in these districts must consider elephant movement in their EIA, wildlife conservation plans and mitigation, and may face conditions to fund conservation. See eco-sensitive zones.

Bastar and iron ore

Bastar's iron ore deposits at Bailadila are among the richest in the country. Mining here takes place in forest and tribal areas, and proposals to allot new deposits have faced gram sabha objections and protests, including over sacred hills. Lessees must follow forest clearance and forest rights processes, comply with PESA in Scheduled Areas, and manage tailings and water pollution in rivers such as the Shankini and Dankini. Slurry pipelines and beneficiation plants also need clearances. See forest clearance.

Questions before investing in Chhattisgarh