Kharge Criticises Modi Government Over Alleged Forest Loss And Environmental Policy Changes
Kharge accuses Modi government of weakening environmental protections and increasing forest loss.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led government, alleging that it is weakening India’s environmental governance framework and contributing to large-scale forest degradation. In a post on social media platform X on World Environment Day, Kharge claimed that natural ecosystems across the country are facing steady erosion due to policy decisions and project clearances.
Kharge alleged that the government is presenting a “manufactured illusion” of environmental progress by relying on selective definitions and statistical interpretations. He further stated that while citizens are encouraged to adopt symbolic measures such as staying hydrated during rising temperatures, the government is simultaneously overseeing what he described as aggressive ecological destruction.
Citing official data and project-related estimates, the Congress chief claimed that nearly 1,91,922 hectares of forest land have been cleared over the past 11 years. He also alleged that more than 1.6 crore trees have been cut since 2014, arguing that these figures reflect a widening gap between environmental claims and ground realities.
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Kharge also pointed to several major infrastructure and mining projects across India that, according to him, have significantly impacted forest cover. He cited the Great Nicobar project in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, mining and infrastructure expansion in Madhya Pradesh, the Hasdeo Arand coal project in Chhattisgarh, highway development in Uttar Pradesh and Assam, the Bharatmala project in Odisha, and coastal road construction in Maharashtra as examples of large-scale ecological disruption.
The Congress president also criticised the government’s interpretation of forest cover data as presented in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR). He alleged that the inclusion of plantations such as rubber, oil palm, bamboo, and orchards in forest cover statistics masks the loss of natural, biodiverse forests and presents an inflated picture of environmental stability.
He further claimed that environmental safeguards established over decades have been weakened under the current administration. Referring to landmark environmental laws and institutions introduced during earlier governments, Kharge argued that recent policy changes have prioritised rapid project approvals over ecological protection.
Kharge concluded by calling for a stronger commitment to environmental law, community participation, and sustainable development. He stressed that India’s environmental future must balance human development with ecological preservation to ensure long-term resilience and safety for future generations.
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