Adani Gets Another Coal Block In Chhattisgarh As Congress Raises ‘Ecocide’ Alarm Over Tara

The auction of the Tara coal block in Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo-Aranya region has brought the Adani Group back into the spotlight, with CG Syn-Gas and Chemicals Ltd, an Adani Enterprises group company, emerging as the successful bidder and offering a striking 37.5 per cent revenue share against a reserve price of 4 per cent.

The development has triggered a fresh political and environmental row, with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accusing the Modi government of supporting what he called an “ecocide” in one of the country's important forest landscapes.

Tara (Revised) covers roughly 2,093 hectares, or about 5,170 acres. However, the total coal-block area should not be confused with the forest land that may ultimately be diverted for mining. Congress has claimed that more than 4,000 acres of dense forest could be affected and that over 10 lakh trees may face clearing. Historical project documents, however, contain different tree-felling estimates, making the latest forest-clearance and mining-plan figures crucial.

Tara has a complicated history. It was included in the Centre’s commercial coal auction in 2023 but was subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Chhattisgarh government, despite multiple bids having been received. It returned in a revised form and was auctioned in August 2026.

The winning bidder, CG Syn-Gas and Chemicals Ltd, is part of the Adani Enterprises corporate structure. The company was incorporated in August 2025, making its successful bid less than a year after incorporation a notable feature of the auction.

The block has a peak rated capacity of 6 million tonnes a year and geological reserves of about 293.91 million tonnes. Yet winning the auction does not mean mining can begin immediately. Environmental, forest, land and other statutory approvals remain necessary.

For communities in Hasdeo-Aranya, the issue goes beyond trees. Adivasi and forest-dependent villagers have opposed mining for years through protests, Gram Sabha resolutions and legal challenges. Questions remain over affected families, forest rights, compensation and rehabilitation.