<h1>Former chief minister backs villagers protesting unauthorized tree felling for coal mine project by private contractor</h1> A former state chief minister visited a district to support villagers protesting tree felling for a coal mine project. The mining block was allocated to a state power company that contracted operations to a private group. Tree cutting began in forested areas between two villages without local council permission. The political leader alleged the current government is transferring natural resources to private entities while suppressing tribal rights. He claimed systematic forest cutting is occurring across multiple regions since the government change, despite previous legislative resolutions opposing mining in environmentally sensitive areas.