India is witnessing 1,092 land conflicts affecting nearly 1.42 crore people and spanning 4.47 lakh hectares, according to Bhumi Adhikar Andolan, a coalition of organisations working on indigenous rights, farmers’ issues and ecological protection.

The platform said the disputes reflect an expanding crisis linked to land acquisition, evictions, demolitions, forest diversion and displacement. It also called for an immediate halt to forced evictions, bulldozer demolitions and coercive land acquisition.

Coalition Says Legal Protections Are Being Weakened

In a statement, Bhumi Adhikar Andolan said it had documented around 300 land-related conflicts over the past year and alleged that legal safeguards designed to protect people’s rights over land and forests were increasingly being undermined.

“This is happening despite legal safeguards under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, the Forest Rights Act (FRA), PESA, the Fifth and Sixth Schedules, social impact assessment provisions and gram sabha consent,” the coalition said.

According to the platform, these safeguards are being diluted, bypassed or reduced to procedural formalities.

The coalition demanded mandatory social impact assessments and gram sabha consent for all projects involving land, forests, common resources and livelihoods.

Concerns Raised Over Development Projects

Bhumi Adhikar Andolan said land was being diverted for highways, airports, freight corridors, mining, industrial projects and real estate developments.

“What is being presented as ‘development’ is in reality the transfer of land, forest, commons, water bodies, coasts and working-class settlements from people to corporations,” the platform said.

It argued that such projects have intensified displacement and conflicts across several parts of the country.

Forest Rights Act Implementation Under Scrutiny

The coalition also expressed concern over what it described as the weakening of the Forest Rights Act.

According to figures cited by the organisation, nearly 51 lakh claims had been filed under the Act by May 2025, of which about 25 lakh titles had been recognised.

It said approximately 18.6 lakh claims had been rejected, while around 7.5 lakh remained pending.

“Community forest rights continue to lag behind, weakening gram sabha authority over forests and commons,” the platform said.

Coalition Calls for End to Forced Evictions

Bhumi Adhikar Andolan reiterated its demand for stronger protections for affected communities and greater adherence to existing legal provisions.

It called for an end to forced evictions and coercive acquisition practices and urged authorities to strengthen consent mechanisms and assessment processes before undertaking projects that affect land and livelihoods.

The coalition said the growing number of land conflicts and the scale of those affected underscore the need for greater protection of rights and more inclusive decision-making processes.

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