A Supreme Court-appointed committee finds large-scale illegal mining in Karnataka with the connivance of officials. THE issue of illegal mining in Karnataka and the large-scale corruption in political and public life resulting from it refuses to stay away from the headlines. The sordid tale of mining-linked corruption (Cover Story; Frontline, July 16, 2010) has had a few recurring characters – a beleaguered but defiant Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister B.S....

The recently concluded 15th Indian National Census is an exercise of staggering magnitude — by any standard. For perspective: the decennial Census covered an area of 3.27 million sq. kms, that included 640 districts, 5,767 tehsils, 7,742 towns and over 600 villages. Primary data on 1.2 billion people would be collected by over 2 million enumerators, specially trained for the purpose. The total cost of the exercise is conservatively estimated...

Centre to also give 50% subsidy for new mills, technical help to cultivators. The Union agriculture ministry has identified eight states where the Budget annoucement on expanding the area under oil palm cultivation can be implemented. It has decided to provide 50 per cent subsidy for setting up palm oil Extraction units. India imports about 8.2 million tonnes of edible oil in a year and 80 per cent of this is palm...

Environment ministry has said that moratorium on mining in Karnataka will not be lifted until the state government provides a report on the cases booked against violators and the action taken on the adverse Lokayukta report. The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) in its January 18 meeting had allowed JSW Steel Limited, Bangalore to divert 200.73 hectaresof forest land for Extraction of iron ore and manganese in Kumaraswamy range, Sandur taluk of...

After farmers threatened to commit suicide protesting grant of mining leases in Bichwa and Tekadi villages in Saoner tehsil, two mining officials visited Bichwa to take stock of the situation. TOI on February 17 reported how four affected farmers from Bichwa threatened to commit suicide after forcible acquisition of farm land for dolomite and manganese Extraction. Conservationists also said mining activity will pose threat to tiger corridor, especially against the backdrop...