Chandrapur: Environmental activist Bandu Dhotre on Saturday ended his 10-day-long hunger strike outside the Chandrapur district collectorate after the Maharashtra government gave a written assurance to stay action on the proposed Lohardongri iron ore mining project and promised to reconsider the wildlife clearance granted to it.The fast was called off after Chandrapur’s guardian minister Dr Ashok Uike offered Dhotre coconut water and handed over a written communication from the Maharashtra revenue and forest dept.According to the letter, the State Wildlife Board of Maharashtra had, in its meeting on Jan 6, 2026, recommended the project to the National Board for Wildlife subject to several conditions. However, the govt has now temporarily stayed further proceedings related to the project. The letter also states that the State Wildlife Board will consider withdrawing its wildlife-related recommendation for Lohardongri project in its next meeting.The govt assured that a meeting with the state forest minister would soon be convened to discuss a broader set of demands aimed at addressing the rising human-wildlife conflict in the Chandrapur.
