Greenpeace International...joined Greenpeace India's call for Indian authorities to protect democracy and ensure a fair and transparent village council vote in the Mahan forest, over a proposed coal mine development by Essar and Hindalco, where Essar is the majority beneficiary.The local administration in Mahan has called for a Gram Sabha (village council vote)...in order to meet the legal requirement of seeking the forest community's consent to the mine. This will be the second vote after Greenpeace India and the local community members exposed clear indications of corruption involving the forgery of votes at last year's Gram Sabha...In the run-up to the vote, the forest community's rights have been violated in a systematic clampdown including the intimidation of villagers...The Mahan coal mine is not only placing the climate at risk, but will also destroy the livelihoods of thousands of people who depend on the Mahan forest for survival.