Iron Ore Project in Surjagad Allowed to Proceed in Phases Only if Environmental Damage Is Offset by Planting New Trees – Forest Department

“Cutting of 1 Lakh Trees” is False; Lloyd Company to Plant 11 Lakh Trees; Maharashtra Government to Plant 1 Crore Trees in Gadchiroli

Gadchiroli : The Forest Department has clarified that no blanket or uncontrolled permission has been granted for tree cutting for the Surjagad iron ore project in Gadchiroli. The project will proceed in phases with strict environmental safeguards, and any ecological loss will be compensated by planting new trees. The widely circulated claim that “1 lakh trees will be cut” is baseless, exaggerated, and misleading.

The Lloyd Company, executing the project, is committed to planting 11 lakh trees. Additionally, the Maharashtra government plans to plant 1 crore trees across Gadchiroli district.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted ‘in-principle’ approval for the use of 937.077 hectares of forest land in the Etapalli area of Gadchiroli for the scientific exploration and systematic extraction of low-grade hematite quartzite iron ore. Tree felling will only occur where strictly necessary and under controlled, phased conditions—not in an indiscriminate or large-scale manner. There is no mention of “1 lakh tree felling” in any official documentation.

Key Guidelines and Implementation Measures:

• Tree cutting is restricted only to built-up areas necessary for project infrastructure. In all other cases, felling will be allowed only when absolutely essential, and only after inspection and approval by the local Deputy Conservator of Forests.
• To compensate for ecological impact, afforestation and eco-restoration activities will be undertaken in other areas within the Gadchiroli district. The full cost of this environmental restoration will be borne by the project developer, and a detailed plan must be submitted before each phase of the project begins.
• The entire project is divided into three phases, with separate approvals required from the central government for each phase. Thus, no blanket permission has been granted.
• The full 937 hectares will not be used at once.
  • Phase 1: 500 hectares (300 ha for infrastructure and 200 ha for tailing yard).
  • Phase 2: 200 hectares—only after satisfactory compliance of Phase 1.
  • Phase 3: Remaining 237.077 hectares—only after a final review.
• The forest department has strictly enforced a “minimum tree cutting” policy. Tree felling will be undertaken only when unavoidable.

In conclusion, the forest department, through Deputy Conservator of Forests Shailesh Meena of the Bhamragad range, has reiterated that no approval has been given for large-scale or uncontrolled deforestation. The strategy adopted ensures phased development with minimized ecological damage, and the claim of 1 lakh trees being cut in the Surjagad project is completely false.