-The Indian Express Forest clearance has been given to another mining project in Saranda forest, until recently a Naxal stronghold and part of core area of Singhbhum Elephant Reserve in Jharkhand. A month after the Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee gave the go-ahead for diversion of 500 hectares of forest land to Jindal Steel & Power Ltd for iron ore mining in fresh unbroken forest land, it has given clearance to SAIL...

-The Times of India The Chhattisgarh government fudged records, concealed facts, changed policy and altered decisions while the Union environment ministry overlooked all such illegalities to open up 1,899 hectares for mining in Hasdeo Arand, one of the best patches of forests in central India. Initially, the Centre had decided to protect Hasdeo Arand by making it a no-go zone for miners. The Chhattisgarh government too had moved to get the dense...

-The Indian Express The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has recommended diverting over 500 hectares of forest land for an iron ore mining project in the Saranda forest division of Jharkhand, part of the core area of the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve, India's first reserve for elephants. The FAC is a statutory body that advises the environment ministry on diverting forest land. Its recommendations are not binding. The Singhbhum reserve, created in 2001, is spread...

-The Economic Times The move to ease diversion of forest land for industrial use by the Prime Minister's Office faces further delay as the ministries of tribal affairs and environment want more time for consultations. A panel headed by principal secretary to the prime minister, Pulok Chatterjee, had decided to dilute the requirement of taking consent from the affected tribal population before diverting forest land. The committee, which submitted its report...

-The Indian Express The growing influence on policy issues of activists who call themselves “civil society” is a worrying trend and needs to be objectively analysed. Two recent policy pronouncements will illustrate how government seems to be yielding to their pressure. It is well established that absenteeism of teachers and poor quality of outcomes in government schools is the main factor behind the popularity of private schools with poor infrastructure that cater...