Each to be given a block grant of Rs. 25 crore With the aim of giving a fillip to development schemes in tribal and backward regions, mostly affected by Naxal violence, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Friday approved the commencement of an Integrated Action Plan (IAP) in 60 selected districts. The IAP would be an additional central assistance scheme on a 100 per cent grant basis. It is aimed...
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Court quashes allotment of land on lease by GIDC
The Bombay High Court at Goa on Friday quashed the allotment of land on lease by the State-owned industry promotion body to the promoters of seven Special Economic Zone(SEZ) projects upholding the State Government's power to scrap the SEZ policy and the projects in public interest. A Bench comprising Justice A. S. Oka and Justice F. M. Reis, inter alia ruled that that there was lack of fairness and transparency in...
More »Lavasa asked to explain ‘violations' in project by Amruta Byatnal and Priscilla Jebaraj
The Union Environment Ministry on Friday issued a show cause notice to the controversial Lavasa Corporation Limited (LCL), raising serious questions over a number of its constructions that it deems as ‘violations.' Lavasa, India's first hill city, is the ambitious project undertaken by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) about 45 km from Pune. To be built over 25,000 acres, the luxurious city now faces a serious problem with the Ministry notice. The company...
More »Strengthening the CAG's hands by Ramaswamy R Iyer
The institution of Auditor General, established in 1860, became Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) with the commencement of the Constitution. On the occasion of the initiation of year-long celebrations to mark 150 years of the institution, may one, as a former member of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service, put forward a few suggestions (numbered for convenience) aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the institution? 1. It is a...
More »Locking of temple leads to tension by M Rafi Ahmed & S Kaththasami
Deadlock continues in Dalits temple entry issue at Uthamapalayam village in Tirupur district as the caste Hindus, who are in a sizable number in the village, continued to avoid several round of talks chaired by Dharapuram RDO as they felt it as a disgrace to allow Dalits to sit equally with them. Hence, tension prevails in the village. M Thangavel, state organiser for Avinashi-based Vizhuthugal, an NGO working for the Rights of...
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