Bangalore : Under pressure from religious leaders, farmers and opposition parties, the Karnataka government has decided to shelve acquisition of over 5,000 acres of land for two major industrial projects in Mangalore and Gadag districts. On Tuesday, the government gave in to a 24-hour ultimatum issued by the seer of Udupi Pejawar Mutt, Visvesha Thirtha, to withdraw a move to acquire 2,035 acres of land for an SEZ in Mangalore. On Wednesday,...

-IANS   South Korean giant Posco's plan to set up a six million tonnes per annum Steel plant in Karnataka is in doldrums with the state government dropping plans to acquire land, in the face of opposition from farmers and religious leaders. "Even if the farmers agree to give land, we will not acquire it in Gadag district," Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa told reporters Thursday. "If Posco is interested in setting...

Some of that legendary ‘Banarasi pan' could have begun its journey from Gujjari Mohanty's vineyard in Govindpur, Orissa. “I've sold our leaves in Benares [Varanasi] myself,” says her son Sanatan. As have many of their neighbours. “Our leaves are high-quality and greatly valued.” The betel leaf, though, is not just about pan. It is also valued for medicinal qualities as a digestive, for the antiseptic nature of its oil, and...

-The Business Standard   The All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Rahul Gandhi today said he would back the Posco project if the Steel major provided proper rehabilitation else he would throw his weight behind the agitating people. “Posco project will bring development. We are not against development. If Posco provides proper rehabilitation, we will be with Posco. If it fails, we will be with the agitating people,” he said while...

-The Times of India   DAVANAGERE: Jana Sangrama Parishat activist Shehanaz called on the farmers of Halligudi in Gadag district warning them against selling their fertile land for Posco Steel industry. She was addressing a gathering in Davanagere on Wednesday as part of a state-level awareness procession that started from Raichur on July 9 and will end at Bangalore on July 17. It is being held to create awareness among people...