-The Hindu   Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has refused to issue forest clearance to the Mahan coal block in the Singrauli field of Madhya Pradesh, meant for the use of Essar and Hindalco power plants. However, this is not the final rejection. Instead, Mr. Ramesh has merely washed his hands of on the issue and passed the buck to a Group of Ministers to take a final decision. However, he has recommended that...

Maruti Suzuki is once again headed for a confrontation with the rebel workers' body at its Manesar plant that witnessed the 13-day strike last month. Fresh trouble is brewing at the plant as the rebel body Maruti Suzuki Employees Union (MSEU) has decided to boycott the union election slated for July 16. The company has said it neither recognizes the rebel body nor is ready to talk to them. MSEU has...

-The Telegraph   The Mamata Banerjee government has kickstarted a process to hold talks with Maoists without mentioning conditions but acknowledged the responsibilities of governance by adding that central forces will remain until Jungle Mahal is cleansed of arms. The initiative also sought to address a fundamental issue often overlooked by the security and political establishments: the chief minister gave an assurance that the villagers will retain the right to forest resources so...

Forest Bench issues guidelines for future clearances The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the French cement company Lafarge to mine limestone in the forests of the East Khasi hills in Meghalaya. The Forest Bench, comprising Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia and Justices Aftab Alam and K.S. Radhakrishnan, accepted the contentions of the Lafarge to mine in the forests of Meghalaya and that it had obtained necessary clearances. Writing the judgment, the CJI said: “In...

-Press Trust of India   Altogether 1,807 farmers have submitted applications for return of their land acquired for the Tata Motors Nano project here. The plea for return of land has been made under the new Singur land Rehabilitation and Development Act enacted by the West Bengal government. "Among them, 76 submitted application forms today and three yesterday," sources in the Block Land and Land Revenue office said. On the discrepancy in the notices...