Maharashtra Clears Forest Land for Rs 13 Billion Coal Project

25 Jul 2025 CW Team

The Maharashtra Forest Department has approved the diversion of 87.35 hectares of shrub forest, known locally as Zudpi jungle, for the Gondkhairi Underground Coal Mine Project being undertaken by Adani Power Maharashtra Ltd (APML). The project site is located in Gondkhairi village in Kalmeshwar taluka, approximately 20 kilometres from Nagpur, and involves an investment exceeding Rs 13 billion, with an operational lifespan of 30 years.

In March 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that the Zudpi jungle areas in Nagpur qualify as forest land and that any diversion for non-forest purposes would require prior approval from the central government. The apex court also directed the Maharashtra government and the Centre to devise a mechanism for assessing and processing such diversion proposals.

An expert panel appointed by the state forest department had earlier recommended denotifying the Zudpi jungle and reclassifying it as revenue land to facilitate infrastructure projects. This move drew strong opposition from environmental activists, who challenged the proposal in court. The Supreme Court subsequently ruled that any such land use must still adhere to forest conservation regulations and could only proceed with the Centre’s sanction.

Following central government approval, the Maharashtra Forest Department officially cleared the way for the land conversion in favour of the Adani-led coal mining project.

A spokesperson for Adani Power declined to comment on the development.

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