Economic growth often entails faster exploitation of natural resources, which eventually leads to long term deterioration in the environmental quality. This has been experienced world-over and the same can be witnessed in case of Madhya Pradesh as well. According to a draft of MP State Action Plan on Climate Change report, released in 2012, approximately 37 lakh hectare of forest land is in different phases of degradation in MP. This is going to adversely affect biodiversity, communities dependent on forest for their survival, as well as for the urban population. The environmental degradation adversely affects agriculture also, which is a source of livelihood for a vast majority in MP. This is already evident in irregular and illtimed rain cycles. This constant conflict between Economic Growth and Environmental quality has led to the creation of two camps. One is the set of environmentalists, who believe that if we do not make any sweeping changes in the manner in which we are growing, we are set for doom. The other camp can be called as pro-growth which believes that the survival of the ever burgeoning population is dependent upon growth without which there will be a problem of scarcity. An evidence of the conflict between the two is clearly visible in the forests of Mahan. There are said to be huge coal reserves in the forests of Mahan which the companies like Essar & Hindalco want to mine. However, this will result in displacement of thousands of people who are dependent on these forests for their livelihood, will destroy the complete ecosystem that exists in those forests and also put the climate at risk due to environmental degradation. To oppose the mining projects, people of Mahan have come together and have formed Mahan Sangharsh Samiti in March 2013 to protect the forests. They have gradually expanded their scope to 11 villages now and have also got the support of several NGOs with special mention be made of the efforts put in by Greenpeace International. However, there are reports that the villagers living in these forests as well as the Greenpeace activists stationed in the forests are being threatened to withdraw their opposition to the mining project. The time has come now to understand that neither of the extremes can hold good now. There is a need to blend the two approaches if the present needs are to be met along with ensuring that we are able to meet the needs of the future generation. Investment in Green Technology is the way forward.