The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) under India's environment ministry has approved a controversial plan to clear 937 hectares of forest in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, for an iron ore mining project by Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited. This decision permits the clearing of a contiguous forest block that is home to diverse wildlife, including tigers and leopards. To offset this loss, the plan includes compensatory afforestation in Ratnagiri district, approximately 1,000 km away, where the designated land is already largely forested. Critics, including environmentalists and tribal rights advocates, argue that this approach is ecologically flawed and undermines the rights of local communities, as the area is classified as affected by Left-Wing Extremism and holds significant tribal populations. The FAC's approval, which includes a wildlife conservation plan costing ₹1,204.20 lakh, has sparked a debate about the adequacy of the measures taken to protect the environment and local rights.