Pendravan, also known as Pandit Lakhan Lal Mishra Reservoir, constructed in 1909, is the primary source of water and irrigation for over 12 villages in Tilda tehsil in Raipur district. The reservoir, located near the Mohrenga and Khaulidabri protected forests, is a nesting location for many migratory birds during winters.
In 2012, UltraTech Cement received a lease for open cast limestone mining in the area where the reservoir is located. A total of 689 hectares of land was allotted to the company, of which 658.451 hectares was private land. The Water Resources Department issued a conditional No Objection Certificate (NOC). People and politicians have been protesting since fearing the impact of mining on the reservoir.
On 18 August 2015, the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board organised a public hearing for the environmental clearance (EC) of the project. Villagers and elected representatives used the platform to raise their concerns about the decreasing irrigation capacity of the reservoir due to mining. In August 2016, the project received the EC.
However, following objections raised in the Legislative Assembly, the agriculture and water resources minister decided to cancel the NOC, according to a news report. On 3 January 2017, the Water Resource Department issued a revised NOC for the mining project located 50 metres from the water body. The NOC stated that the reservoir adjoining the mine would not be affected by mining activities. However, activists argued that mining could damage the walls of the dam resulting in seepage, which could cause loss of water as, according to the Environment Impact Assessment, the open cast mining would be fully mechanised with the use of detonators and deep hole blasting technique.
Following the issuance of the NOC, farmers from over 12 villages came together to protest under the banner of Pendravan Jalashay Bachao Kisan Sangharsh Samiti and demanded cancellation of the NOC. They had the support of multiple political parties. Protesters even formed a human chain near the dam and organised multiple protests in Raipur to draw the media’s attention.
On 3 March 2017, the state cancelled the NOC to pacify the farmers. But UltraTech Cement filed a petition with the state High Court. On 19 May 2017, the High Court granted interim relief to UltraTech while stating that a public interest litigation was filed on behalf of the farmers.
In April 2024, the Chhattisgarh High Court directed the state Water Resources Department to reconsider its earlier cancellation of an NOC granted to Ultratech. Local groups, including the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and the Pendravan Reservoir Bachao Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, urged the government not to re-issue the NOC, warning that mining would destroy the reservoir, create severe water shortages in the Kharora and Sargaon areas, and cause pollution. Activists announced plans to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister, calling for the protection of the reservoir and the cancellation of the mining lease.
Speaking to LCW, Ghanshyam Verma, Secretary of the Pendravan Reservoir Bachao Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, said, “We met the Chief Minister later that month [14 July 2024] at the Vidhan Sabha and explained how the reservoir is crucial to our livelihood. If the project goes ahead, we will suffer greatly. The CM assured us the project would not move forward, but since then the matter has gone cold and we have not heard anything for a year.”
Despite these assurances, the 689.5 hectares in question remain with UltraTech, leaving farmers with uncertainity about the project’s future.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Opposition against environmental degradation
Complaint against procedural violations
Refusal to give up land for the project
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project stalled due to protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Water bodies, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence, Agricultural land
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
<https://www.dailypioneer.com/2017/state-editions/govt-bends-under-farmers-stir-cancels-noc-in-pendravan.html> <https://cgkhabar.com/pendravan-to-altratech-20170919/> [Government withdrew NOC given for the project after farmer's protest; but the mine was later transferred to Ultra Tech. The project remains stalled due to pending litigation in High Court. But no data is available regarding the litigation.]
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
106
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
1990
Has the Conflict Ended?
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Land Acquisition Laws, Environmental Law, Other
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Violation of free prior informed consent
Violation of environmental laws
Non-implementation/violation of PESA
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
High Court of Chhattisgarh
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department, Directorate of Geology and Mining
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Yes
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Ultratech Cement Limited
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Pendravan Jalashay Bachao Kisan Sangharsh Samiti
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
