The fact-finding team set up by the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) last month to probe allegations of violations of the Forest Rights Act by Posco, the Korean steel major, for its proposed project in Orissa’s Jagatsinghpur district, will visit the site on Friday and Saturday. The team is led by Meena Gupta, a former secretary of this ministry and also of the tribal affairs one. The other members...
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CPI criticises PM, CM meeting over Posco project
The CPI on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for holding talks to expedite Posco steel project and termed it as an exercise "intended to influence" a Central committee set up to verify implementation of the Forest Rights Act in the proposed plant site near Paradip. "It is surprising that Patnaik rushed to Delhi and met Prime Minister and environment minister Jairam Ramesh for Posco...
More »Process Betrays the Spirit: Forest Rights Act in Bengal by Sourish Jha
The implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 has created controversy in West Bengal. The gram sabha, the basic unit in the process of forest rights recognition, has been replaced by the gram sansad, denoting the village level constituency under the panchayati raj system. This has been followed by contiguous arrangements as well as initiatives which are inconsistent with the Act....
More »Fund crunch hits rural road plans in Naxal dists by Ravish Tiwari
The fund crunch for the government’s rural roads programme appears all set to affect road construction efforts in the worst Naxal-affected districts where the government is contemplating to saturate road requirements — by connecting every habitation — beyond the rigid norms of Bharat Nirman and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The Rural Development Ministry, which administers the rural connectivity programme, is learnt to have apprised an empowered group of officers,...
More »GoM to discuss illegal mining, iron ore export ban by Sujay Mehdudia
A Group of Ministers (GoM) will discuss on Thursday issues pertaining to illegal mining, a ban on iron ore exports, the new mining legislation and setting aside a share in the profits of mining companies for the development of tribal areas. Officials of the Ministry of Mines said Minister B.K. Handique was pushing for the Ministry's proposal to make mining companies in tribal areas shell out a part of their equity,...
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