Madhya Pradesh, long called the “tiger state,” is facing a devastating ecological crisis. Official data reveals that the state has lost 408 sq km of forests between 2019 and 2023 — an area larger than the city of Bhopal itself. This is not just “development.” It’s a direct assault on India’s green lungs, driven by corporate mining, infrastructure projects, and the government’s pro-industry policies that trample on tribal rights and local communities. Forest loss means rising heat, vanishing water, loss of biodiversity, and collapsing livelihoods for millions who depend on forests for survival. Instead of protecting the commons, the state bends to corporate greed — leaving people and ecosystems to pay the price. Climate collapse is no longer a future warning. It is unfolding before our eyes.
Source: Times of India
