-The Economic Times There has been a change of guard at the power ministry and Jyotiraditya Scindia, the new man in charge, has described his task as daunting. To simplify the many complexities, it's worth keeping in mind an adage that's particularly apt for rural India: Nothing is more expensive than no power. While on one hand there are thousands of villages that still remain to be electrified, on the other even...

-The Economic Times CHENNAI: Labour troubles are back to haunt Hyundai's India operations, with Leftist labour group Centre of Indian Trade Unions saying at least 300 workers affiliated to it are on an indefinite strike since Tuesday afternoon at the South Korean carmaker's plant in Sriperumbudur, 50 km from Chennai. But the Hyundai management has sought to play it down, saying in a release that the production disruption was limited to only...

-The Business Standard SC decision to seek views on GM crops welcome  The Supreme Court’s decision to seek views of different stakeholders before considering a 10-year moratorium on field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops, as suggested by the technical committee it had appointed, is welcome. The committee’s recommendation had caused widespread disquiet among the scientific community, a section of the seed industry and farmers. If the recommendation was accepted by the...

-Al Jazeera Treaty to ban chemicals that harmed the ozone layer came about when there was consensus between science and politics. In 1974, chemists Mario Molina and Frank Sherwood Rowland published a landmark article that demonstrated the ability of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to break down the ozone layer, the atmospheric region that plays a vital role in shielding humans and other life from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It marked the opening salvo of...

-The Times of India Rehabilitation of the illegal iron ore mining-ravaged environment in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts of Karnataka will need Rs 30,000 crore over the next 30 years, the Supreme Court has been informed. Submitting a report detailing the plan of action for rehabilitation of the environment, the central empowered committee (CEC) said, "The project period is planned to be 30 years and the current financial year (2012-13) has been...