Forest Clearance Granted for Iron Ore Plant in Maoist-Affected Gadchiroli. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted clearance for Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited’s iron ore beneficiation plant in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. A beneficiation plant improves the quality of raw ore by removing impurities. The approval date for forest clearance was given on May 12, 2023. The approval to Lloyd Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) permits the diversion of 937 hectares of forest land to be used in three regulated phases. To know more about the topic “Forest Clearance Granted for Iron Ore Plant in Maoist-Affected Gadchiroli,” read the complete article.
Forest Clearance Granted for Iron Ore Plant in Maoist-Affected Gadchiroli
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted in-principle forest clearance for Lloyd Metals and Energy Limited’s iron ore benefication plant, a facility that enhances the quality of raw ore in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, where Maoists have been active for years. This preliminary approval opens the path for the conversion of 973 hectares of forest land and the felling of 1.23 lakh trees, according to Ministry documents. The forest clearance for the planned plant comes amid the Maharashtra government’s push to boost mining and industrial activity in the district affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).
The district holds reserves of iron ore, limestone, and diamonds, which can be commercially exploited if the state chooses to do so. To promote this development, the Maharashtra Cabinet authorized the establishment of a Gadchiroli District Mining Authority last month. The authority will be headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and will oversee the management of major and minor minerals within the state of Maharashtra. The mining lease, spread over 348 hectares, was originally granted to the company for 20 years in 2007 and was later renewed until May 2057, according to company documents submitted to the center.
The company must get permission from the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife as a part of the project that lies within a tiger corridor that joins the Tadoba and Indravati tiger reserves. In Surjagarh, operations started in 2016 but were halted by Maoist violence and tribal protests. In one significant incident, Maoists burned 69 trucks and three earth movers at the site that year. While security operations have minimized insurgent activity in recent years, the ecological expense of industrial expansion in Gadchiroli continues to increase questions among conservationists.
Governance and Management Initiatives
The Maharashtra cabinet has established a Gadchiroli District Mining Authority, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, tasked with overseeing mineral management in the district. Compensatory afforestation is planned in Chiplun, Ratnagiri district, to offset the environmental impact of land diversion. The development will occur in a phased approach:
- Phase 1: Utilization of 300 hectares
- Phase 2: Additional usage of 200 hectare following compliance assessments
- Balance 237.077 hectares will only be permitted after the successful implementation of previous phases
Clearance History
The company was originally provided a 348-hectare mining lease for a period of 20 years in 2007, which was later extended until May 2057, as per the company’s documents submitted to the central government. The conditional in-principle approval was granted on May 12, following recommendations from the ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), which is responsible for scrutinizing proposals seeking forest clearances, especially in densely forested areas. The minutes of the FAC meeting indicate that compensation for forest diversion of over 900 hectares has been proposed in Chiplun, Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.
In 2021, after intelligence on Maoist commander Hidma’s presence, an operation was launched involving 540 CRPF and CoBRA commandos, 250 DRG and STF personnel, along with contingents of auxiliary forces. However, the operation turned out to be a failure, as security forces realized they had walked into a trap, with Hidma’s battalion killing 22 soldiers with LMG fire from a hill. In the Karregutta Hill encounter of April-May 2025, a total of 25,000 personnel joined an operation that ran for almost three weeks and was described as the biggest anti-Maoist action taken in decades. Thirty-one Maoists were killed in the operation, but Hidma remained elusive.
Key Points
- Preliminary forest clearance granted for iron ore beneficiation plant.
- 937 hectares of forest land will be diverted, with compliance and phased usage stipulated.
- The mine area has faced major Maoist opposition, impacting operational timelines.
- New mining authority was established to manage resources amidst regional challenges.
- Plans for compensating afforestation have been proposed to minimize environmental impacts.
- Chief Minister showcases governance efforts to enhance local conditions and minimize Maoist impact.
