-The Hindu Proposed NIB would be illegal, she says Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan has expressed “very serious concern” at the setting up of a National Investment Board to fast-track clearances of major infrastructure projects, saying the “concept is unacceptable,” documents exclusively obtained by The Hindu reveal. In a five-page letter sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 9, Ms. Natarajan said the proposal would upturn established procedures...

-The Business Standard If Mr Vadra had to count his friends in the real estate business, they would be Corporation Bank, the Haryana government and DLF  Robert Vadra, who is at the centre of a controversy over his property dealings with realty giant DLF and others, began investing in real estate five years ago, in 2007-08. He was already a wealthy man by then, not a struggling businessman who could scrape only...

-Outlook Tharu tribals residing in 300 forested villages surrounding the Valmiki Nagar Tiger reserve in Bihar's West Champaran district are likely to be displaced if a proposal to increase the area of the tiger reserve is implemented. The tiger reserve area is proposed to be increased from 335 square kms at present to 599 square kms to create a core and buffer zones, an official of the sanctuary said. CPI(M-L) Liberation leader Kumar...

-The Telegraph The Centre has issued a directive asking officials to seek only the minimum number of documents required for claiming family pension following complaints of unnecessary harassment. In a memorandum issued last week, the department of pension and pensioners’ welfare asked all central government ministries and departments to “strictly” adhere to instructions so that relatives of deceased pensioners are not put through “any hardships”. From the “representations received in this department it...

-The Times of India The anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) protesters may attempt to hold demonstrations and lay siege to Tuticorin port and government Offices on Saturday. They had on Friday threatened to stop all activities at the port. The protest will be led by activist SP Udayakumar, according to media reports. Shipping minister GK Vasan had on Friday urged the anti-nuclear plant activists at Kudankulam to desist from stalling activity at...