“Freedom from fear” and “Punishment-free zone” read the slogans on the school walls. These signify the end of corporal punishment. They take on a different meaning, though, when schools are occupied by the police, as they are around Dhinkia and Govindpur, the villages resisting the State's takeover of their farmland for Posco's mega power and steel project ( The Hindu , July 13-14). Children here grabbed national attention when they joined...

-DNA   The drama surrounding the proposed Posco steel plant in Halligudi, Gadag district, took another twist on Thursday when representatives of farmers, under the banner ‘Raitha Hitharakshana Samiti’, handed over letters signed by 375 farmers stating that they were ready to part with their land for the plant. Somashekarappa Eerappa Channalli, who spearheaded the group, said the protests against the plant were politically motivated. “The reality is that many farmers are...

Kolkata : Mamata Banerjee’s announcement banning the acquisition of land by any government department or agency for industry has grounded over a dozen key industrial parks across the state. These projects, in various stages of progress — and in which land acquisition was on — account for a committed investment of Rs 50,000 crore. The announcement — underlined by the state Industries and Finance Ministers — has stunned industry and so...

-The Times of India   DAVANAGERE: Jana Sangrama Parishat activist Shehanaz called on the farmers of Halligudi in Gadag district warning them against selling their fertile land for Posco Steel Industry. She was addressing a gathering in Davanagere on Wednesday as part of a state-level awareness procession that started from Raichur on July 9 and will end at Bangalore on July 17. It is being held to create awareness among people...

A host of steel-manufacturing units are keen to set up plants in Karnataka, and all want captive mines. SOUTH KOREA'S Posco is not the only steel-maker keen to do business in Karnataka. The State's estimated 9,000 million tonnes of good-quality iron ore reserves, which is the second largest in India, the State government's assurances on a smooth land acquisition process, the availability of water and the promise of speedy regulatory clearances...