In a bid to settle the land acquisition row, Noida Authority on Friday issued a notice to change land use in Noida. The Authority has identified two pieces of land which will be allotted to farmers as developed land equalling 5 per cent of the total acquired and a b a d iland. The Authority will first allot land to farmers of those villages where Housing projects are currently under way. TOI...

-The Pioneer   The elected from two major political dispensations on Friday converged on the need for the presence of civil society groups but cautioned them against usurping the role and responsibilities of the constitutionally mandated institutions like Parliament. Similar opinion also emerged from the two leading editors and other participants on a seminar on civil society in the national Capital on Friday. While Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Leader...

-The Business Standard   The Supreme Court decision banning both mining and movement of ore in Bellary district in Karnataka, following the Lok Ayukta report, is excessive. The blanket ban penalises even those who did nothing wrong. While the outrage over the illegal profiteering of over Rs 12,000 crore by a politician-operator-bureaucrat combine is understandable, applying the brakes on all mining and related activity in the district is an undifferentiated response. The...

-The Telegraph   Mamata Banerjee today said the draft land acquisition bill that Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh came to discuss with her tonight was “much better” than the previous one. “This draft is much better than the previous one. It has the correct approach. I have issues with one or two points. I will study it in detail and inform the Centre,” Mamata said after her 20-minute meeting with Ramesh at...

At mahapanchayat, 31 villages decide to appeal in court on Thursday Villagers of area surrounding the Yamuna Expressway held a mahapanchayat on Sunday to discuss the issue of compensation. The villagers have been paid Rs 800/sqm for the land acquired in 2008 by Yamuna Expressway Authority. They claim the money paid is Rs 50/sqm less than the approved circle rates of the time. The villagers who feel “cheated” and 31 villages, of...