Are environmental clearances delaying industrial development in the country? Some in the government might claim so and argue for further easing of green norms but government data shows otherwise. In the past three years, the rate of rejection of projects for environmental clearance was an insignificant 1.13%. Out of the 1,689 projects that the environment ministry decided upon from 2008 up to August 2011, only 19 were rejected. The ministry...

A prominent Right to Information activist and supporter of social activist Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign was shot dead outside her residence in Bhopal on Tuesday morning. Shehla Masood was shot dead by an unidentified assailant outside her house in the city's posh Koh-e-Fiza locality as she was on her way to an anti-corruption campaign being organised by her and other activists in support of Mr. Anna Hazare at the Bhopal Boat...

Farmers in Gadag district who succeeded in making the government revisit its decision to acquire land for housing South Korea’s Posco Steel Company, are now facing the prospect of their land being acquired for setting up agro-based industries. The government has decided to keep land ready in view of the Global Agri-Business Investment and Food Processing Meet 2011. This time, instead of Halligudi, over 3,800 acres in Petalur, Jantli-Shirur and Mevundi...

-PTI   In the backdrop of controversies surrounding procurement of land, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today promised enactment of a "forward looking and balanced" law on land acquisition soon to prevent tensions over the sensitive issue.Taking note of the tensions caused in some parts of the country because of acquisition of land for industry, infrastructure and urbanisation, the Prime Minister said the government will ensure that "no injustice is done to anyone...

The $12 billion Posco investment in India was supposed to be the biggest FDI project in the country. After six years that still remains on paper Horangineun jugeumyeon gajugeul namgigo, Sarameun jugeumyun ireumeul namginda (When tigers die, they leave behind leather. When people die, they leave their names behind) —Old Korean Proverb The news flash from Press Trust of India came on July 10, 2011. Posco, the $32 billion South Korean steel giant had decided to...