Jharkhand is viewing with serious concern Mamata Banerjee government’s peace initiatives with Maoists in neighbouring Bengal, the apprehensions centred around a prevalent lull in anti-rebel operations that could lead to repercussions in a state that the Union home minister described as the epicentre of left wing extremism. State DGP G.S. Rath believes the developments in Bengal, where peace moves have meant that anti-rebel operations have been reduced to routine patrolling by...

The report on illegal Mining in Karnataka, compiled by Lokayukta Santosh Hegde and his team, may spell the end of the first Bharatiya Janata Party government in south India. While the report is voluminous, here are a few details of what the Lokayukta and his team have found while probing the illegal Mining scam. In the report the Lokayukta clearly makes charges against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Minister for...

A government panel has said the 'Go, No-Go' concept of forest area classification for clearances tocoal blocks is legally not tenable and should be abandoned. The environment ministry's ban on Mining in areas of thick forest cover has locked away millions of tonnes ofcoal reserves. According to the power ministry, coal shortage is likely to hold up new power projects of over 17,000 mw aggregate capacity. This has triggered debate among...

-PTI Ninety percent Mining in Bellary district of Karnataka is illegal which has converted the area of green scenic into a war ravaged zone with huge ugly scars, says the Supreme Court-appointed committee. Placing its report before the apex court, the expert body said a majority of companies are involved in illegal Mining and recommended the state governemnt be directed to cancel their lease. "It is estimated that the production of mines which...

-PTI   The Supreme Court has suspended with immediate effect the Mining of iron ore in 10,868 hectares in Bellary district of Karnataka. "We are of the view that the Mining of iron ore in Bellary be suspended immediately till further orders," a special bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kadia said. The court said the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) will, meanwhile, come out with an interim report on the...