BangaloreThe fate of South Korean steelmaker Posco's proposed plant in Karnataka remains uncertain with two groups of farmers holding different views on the project. The government has already assured protesting farmers that the project would not come up in Gadag district. However, it is also waiting to see if the issue can be resolved as a separate group of farmers is offering land for the plant. Karnataka industries minister Murugesh Nirani, who will meet...

NEW DELHI: The environment ministry made a specious argument before the Cuttack bench of Orissa High Court, defending its decision to clearPosco without verifying if the Forest Rights Act had been violated or not in diverting forest land to the Rs 54,000 crore integrated steel plant. It said that the law – also UPA's flagship pro-tribal scheme -- did not provide any mechanism to verify its implementation in a case,...

BangaloreThe Karnataka government is set to engage South Korean steel maker Posco in discussions early this week over its proposed steel plant in the state that has now been stalled. The process of acquiring 3,382 acre for the plant in Karnataka's Gadag district had been halted by chief minister BS Yeddyurappa last week under pressure from protests by farmers unwilling to sell their land and religious seers. The government will watch...

While insisting that the environment must be protected at all costs, environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan Sunday said "the past is over" and she will ensure speedy decisions on major projects like Posco and Vedanta. In an interview to news channel CNN-IBN, Natarajan, who last week succeeded Jairam Ramesh as the environment minister, said there should be clarity on decisions taken on environmental projects and that once a clearance is given, it...

Paradip, July 16: Things were back on the boil today in Posco project area. Tension mounted in the zone as at least eight protesters, mostly women, were injured following an alleged use of force by police at Polang village. Officials engaged in land acquisition process for the steel plant project were forced to retreat with project-related work left grounded today amidst stiff resistance from landlosers. The land acquisition process and ancillary...