<p>Judgment of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Shalbjit Singh Vs Punjab State Pollution Control Board & Others dated 21/11/2024.</p> <p>A letter petition dated November 5, 2022 was sent
Hundreds of Japanese people accidentally infected with hepatitis C between the 1970s and 1990s are to be awarded compensation from the government and the drug companies responsible. But thousands of others also affected by the scandal stand to get nothing.
uncertainty continues in Chengara village in south Kerala's Pathanamthitta district where about 10,000 landless people forcibly settled in a rubber plantation in August 2007. The settlers, mostly
manoranjan Das bsc, llb, mca thought his degrees would get him a job at the Vedanta Alumina refinery in Orissa's Lanjigarh block. He had more reasons; one acre of his family land is now part of
THE last couple of decades have witnessed intense resistance movements challenging large-scale displacement caused, among others, by mines, dams, national parks and sanctuaries, bomb and missile-testing ranges, industry and urban expansion.
The Singrauli region, in central India, is a nerve centre for thermal power and is called the
India's ugliest dam builder is undoubtedly the state-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). While the company is currently angling to acquire new capital, its operations at home and abroad have left a trail of ruined livelihoods and misery in its wake.
Chhattisgarh, which became a separate state in November 2001, has the richest reserves of minerals in India. It is for the same reason that it is attracting a lot of investors, says the state's Chief Minister Raman Singh. In conversation with Yeshi Seli, the chief minister points out that steel and power projects would be attracting major investments in the years to come. The Tatas had evinced a keen interest in setting up a steel plant in Chhattisgarh but that ran into rough weather. What is the latest on that front? Substantial progress has been made ii the project that the Tatas would be setting up. The land acquisition proceedings have already been completed. And contrary to what some people may want to believe, majority of the farmers have accepted the compensation package. In fact, we are certain that onsite work on the project would begin by the end of February or the beginning of March this year. As far as the farmers are concerned, we have provided a modern and pro-people 'rehabilitation package' to them, which includes alternate agricultural land for those who want to continue with agriculture, instead of accepting an employment in the plant. As you may be aware, Chhattisgarh is rich in minerals and our government has formulated a specific policy of value, addition of our natural resources within the state. Our good quality iron ore, bauxite and lime stone have attracted a number of iron & steel, aluminium and cement industries to invest in our state. We are number one state in attracting investment proposals and have received offers worth around Rs, 10,000 crore. Installation of various industries is in different stages of completion and more than Rsl5,000 crore have already been invested in these sectors within the last four years. There were reports suggesting that L.N. Mittal wanted to set up a greenfield steel plant in your state... There are many Indian and foreign companies that are interested in setting up steel plants in our state. However, till something conclusive is arrived at, it would not be prudent on our part to divulge details for the same. Would your state prefer investment by domestic companies like the Tatas to international majors like Mittal? Projects which are in the interest of the state, be it by Indian or foreign companies, would be offered a level playing field in Chhattisgarh. However, we would look forward to proposals/investments in new technology sectors like it. It is also understood that Chhattisgarh has huge reserves of diamonds and international majors like De Beers were allowed to mine in the state. What were the results of the same? Yes, there are diamond reserves in our state. Regarding De Beers, some of its projects have been recommended by our government to the Centre for granting it prospecting licence. With new projects coming up, there would be additional requirement of power. Is your state equipped with adequate power? During the past two decades, not one new power project was established in our state. However, things have improved now, as thermal power projects with a collective capacity of 500 megawatt (mw) Tiave been established here recently. Also, an action plan has been prepared to make our state the power hub of the country. Accordingly, MoUs have been executed to set up power plants with 30,000 mw capacity, which would be worth about Rsl,35,000 crore. On 1 January 2008, Chhattisgarh became a 'no power-cut state'. Now, we are supplying power for 24 hours in our rural as well as urban areas without any interruption. We have also invested around Rs20,000 crore to improve our transmission and distribution network for quality power supply. How do you ensure law and order for those coming to invest, as there is a huge Naxalite problem in Chhattisgarh? The long-standing problem of Naxalites is not limited to Chhattisgarh alone. This problem will have to be tackled in close co-ordination with the Union government and other affected state governments. I think the efforts taken in this direction are yielding positive results. The worst phase, I feel, is over. People in the affected districts are now fed up with this menace and are voicing their resistance towards Naxalites, which is creating panic within the Naxalites. The state government is in control of the situation and I don't think it will affect the flow of investments in the state.
the official response to the avian flu outbreak in West Bengal, now threatening to assume epidemic proportions, is a story of hubris underlined by pathetic bungling on the ground. Not long ago
Bengal bird flu outbreak shows up state, central health system on january 15, the union government confirmed a bird flu outbreak in West Bengal. The worst India has ever seen, the outbreak caught
A cow for Rs 89,000, a pig for Rs 12,000 and a goat, Rs 19,000. These are not fictional prices dreamt up by some livestock dealer. These are the prices businessmen have quoted for supplying
