While insisting that the environment must be protected at all costs, environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan Sunday said "the past is over" and she will ensure speedy decisions on major projects like Posco and Vedanta. In an interview to news channel CNN-IBN, Natarajan, who last week succeeded Jairam Ramesh as the environment minister, said there should be clarity on decisions taken on environmental projects and that once a clearance is given, it...

Paradip, July 16: Things were back on the boil today in Posco project area. Tension mounted in the zone as at least eight protesters, mostly women, were injured following an alleged use of force by police at Polang village. Officials engaged in land acquisition process for the steel plant project were forced to retreat with project-related work left grounded today amidst stiff resistance from landlosers. The land acquisition process and ancillary...

-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...

-PTI   NEW DELHI: South Korean steel major POSCO will build the $ 12 billion plant in Orissa in three phases and hopes to start work on four million tonne (MT) first phase soon after the land is transferred to it. "We will build the 12 million tonne per annum (MTPA) steel plant in Orissa in three phases. The first phase will be of 4 MTPA and we hope to begin...

-IANS   South Korean giant Posco's plan to set up a six million tonnes per annum steel plant in Karnataka is in doldrums with the state government dropping plans to acquire land, in the face of opposition from farmers and religious leaders. "Even if the farmers agree to give land, we will not acquire it in Gadag district," Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa told reporters Thursday. "If Posco is interested in setting...