Thousands of villagers gathered in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district on Friday for a massive mahapanchayat to protest Adani Enterprises’ proposed coal mining project in Gondalpura. The event, held in Barkagaon Block’s Harli village, saw participation from over 10,000 people across five villages, united by slogans and songs defending their land and forests.
Protesters alleged that the project, covering around 513 hectares including forest and tenancy land, was approved without their consent through a fake gram sabha. Activists said the government was favouring corporations over local communities.
The Gondalpura coal block, auctioned to Adani in 2020, holds an estimated 176 million tonnes of coal. Residents fear the ₹1 lakh crore project will destroy farmland, forests, and livelihoods.
Villagers accused authorities of harassment through false FIRs and said earlier projects by NTPC had displaced families and damaged the environment. Demonstrators vowed to continue their resistance, calling the fight a struggle for survival.