Over 90 Kilometres south-east of capital Ranchi towards the Chandil Dam are 48 villages residing 50,000 people for whom the prevailing drought has turned out to be a boon.The Dam is an ambitious World Bank project meant to irrigate fields in Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal. These villages are declared 'to-be submerged villages'. In order to store water up to 180 meters above sea level to fight drought, the state irrigation...

Facing heat from the Centre over mining projects in his State, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is expected to raise concerns over recommendations of a government panel on the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday. Mr. Patnaik said he would apprise Dr. Singh on the adverse effects the recommendations would have on investments in the State. “I shall be meeting the Prime Minister and take up matters regarding the Polavaram...

The draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, or MMDR Bill, includes a crucial provision to share the wealth of mining — 26 per cent of the annual profits — with people who live near the projects. But industry wants this profit-sharing clause dropped. The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (Fimi) says it will breed lazy people, who will only drink and beat up their women. The Confederation...

In the good old days, there were the Asian Games under Indira Gandhi. Inaugurated by the Empress on her own birthday, November 19, 1982, they seem like a fairy tale now. No leaking roofs weeks before the show; no front-page shockers about crores paid to shady firms; everything going like clockwork under Her Majesty’s eagle eye. Definitely no portly, shifty-eyed Suresh Kalmadi. At that time, there was no Organising Committee. Under...

Over 60 villages of the district have been flooded with the Yamuna waters after 3.46 lakh cusecs (over the flood level) were released from the Hathnikund barrage this morning. The barrage in Chhachhrauli is about 45 km from here. Water has entered residential areas of at least 22 villages located in low-lying areas while agricultural land in over 48 villages has been submerged after the embankments of the Yamuna were washed...