Raigarh. Vidhyawati Sidar, the MLA representing the Lailunga constituency, was apprehended by police for backing the villagers who are protesting the deforestation happening in the Mudagaon region and surrounding forests. The root cause of the conflict is the allocation of a coal mine to an industrialist, and the subsequent cutting of trees, which has drawn strong opposition from the local community.
For over a month, the local population, comprising individuals from more than a dozen villages, have actively resisted the deforestation. The MLA’s arrival this morning to support the villagers led to her arrest, which has sparked additional protests and condemnation from the local community.
The deforestation is part of an industrial undertaking in Mudagaon, Tamnar. A significant police force has been deployed to oversee the operation. Local residents stress the importance of the dense forests and rich biodiversity, both for the environment and for the tribal communities who depend on the forests for their livelihoods.