The Planning Commission’s advice to the Haryana government to levy a Cess on agricultural power to raise funds for replenishing dwindling groundwater is wise counsel that is likely to fall on deaf ears. There is no denying that the continuous decline in groundwater levels across the subcontinent and weak attempts at replenishment constitute a grave threat to human security in this part of the world. Haryana is not a lonely...

Uttarakhand is likely to pass the much-awaited Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act, setting the stage for private companies like RIL and ITC to get into contract farming in the state and set up private mandis. Uttarakhand agriculture minister, Trivendra Singh Rawat on Friday said chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has agreed to give the final nod to the proposal at the next Cabinet meeting. The move follows the green...

Like coal, the iron ore mining sector in the country too will soon have ‘go’ and ‘no go’ areas where green clearance will be given depending on their ecological sensitivity, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has said. He was speaking at a national workshop on “Reforms in Environmental Regulation” on Tuesday where he underlined the need to ensure developmental activities while protecting ecological concerns. “We would soon extend the exercise of...

The Krushak Morcha of the BJP today held the Government responsible for the suicide of 68 farmers in the State. Passing several resolutions in the first State executive committee meeting here, the farmers wing of the party attributed the suicide cases to the faulty agricultural policies of both the State and Central governments. Alleging that farmers have been committing suicide due to crop loss and increasing loan burden, the resolution said that...

In our 63rd year of Independence, the Right to Education Act comes into effect on April 1. On the eve of its launch, the Union education minister has balanced our perspective by another resolve. India’s enrolment rate for higher education is around 12 per cent. He would increase this to 30 per cent, in line with the advanced nations. There is only one snag. Unlike in advanced countries, one Indian in...