The Bihar government has shifted its focus to agriculture with the intent to make the state a “pioneer” in the second green revolution, stung by the lukewarm response of investors coupled with the Centre’s “non-cooperation” in ushering in an era of industrial growth. Chief minister Nitish Kumar has constituted an agriculture cabinet comprising 17 government departments. The department is aided by agriculture scientist and former director-general of the Indian Council of...

The state government has started deploying security personnel in the Posco project area, anticipating a showdown with activists against land acquisition for the South Korean steel company. The state government would restart land acquisition for the proposed project in Jagatsinghpur district from May 18, chairman and managing director of Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, Priyabrata Patnaik, said on Saturday. The Centre has already given its approval for the diversion of forest land...

The Orissa government today decided to resume land acquisition for Posco’s 12-million-tonne steel plant project from May 18, having got the final nod from the environment ministry. “The Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and Jagatsinghpur district administration will jointly take up land acquisition work from May 18,” Priyabrata Patnaik, the nodal officer for the Posco project, said today. The Union environment ministry on May 2 granted final approval for the diversion of 1,253...

Archaic labour laws are not affecting India's manufacturing sector as much as problems related to land, water, licences and clearances, a government panel's study shows. With the findings of the Planning Commission study, changing rigid labour laws, so far suspected to be the main hurdle before the manufacturing sector, is likely to drop on the government's list of priorities. The sector contributes 15% to India's GDP. "Against popular perception, we...

Compensation for land for BMIC hiked to Rs. 40 lakh an acre Following widespread protests and demands by farmers for higher compensation for land acquired for the controversial Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, the State Cabinet on Thursday decided to increase the compensation paid for 1,916 acres acquired in three villages by the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), which is executing the expressway project. Land in Gonipura and Thippur located near...