“Steel and allied industries facing shortage of iron ore”

Taking into account the acute shortage of iron ore, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended to the Supreme Court to consider permitting resumption of operations in all “Category-A” mining leases in Karnataka where mining has been suspended. The CEC also said the Court “may consider permitting resumption of mining in ‘Category-B’ leases subject to the conditions as applicable for resumption of operations in the ‘Category-A’ leases and compliance with certain additional conditions.”

It is violative of fundamental rights of Dongria Kondh tribals, Forest Rights Act

Justifying the cancellation of the environmental clearance granted to Vedanta for the Lanjigarh Bauxite mining project in Odisha, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on Friday said that forest land cannot be diverted under the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

Accepting the report of the expert team of the Central Water Commission, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Karnataka Government to release forthwith 2.44 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu to save the standing crops on about one lakh acres in the Cauvery delta region.

A three-judge Bench of Justices R.M. Lodha, J. Chelameswar and Madan B. Lokur passed this order after accepting the report of the expert team which visited Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur districts on February 5 to assess the water requirements to save the standing crops.

Upset at delay, judge says: “Don’t abdicate your responsibility. Sorry, this is not the way the government should function”

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to notify the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) dated February 5, 2007. It rapped the government for abdicating its responsibility in not notifying the award as per the mandate of the Inter State River Water Disputes Act. When Additional Solicitor General Harin P. Raval sought further time for the Centre to decide whether to notify the ‘final decision’ or not, a Bench of Justices R.M. Lodha, J. Chelameswar and Madan B. Lokur rejected the plea.

Costs to be collected for removing debris

With a view to cleaning the Yamuna, the National Green Tribunal on Thursday restrained any body, person or authority from throwing debris of any kind, including solid wastes, on the banks of the Yamuna or the water body near the grand old river. A Full Bench of the Tribunal, comprising its Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, judicial member Justice P. Jyotimani and expert members D.K. Agrawal, G.K. Pandey and A.R. Yousuf, passed this order after hearing counsel for various parties.

Supreme Court suggests Tamil Nadu take up the issue with Cauvery River Authority

With Karnataka sticking to its stand that it cannot spare any quantum of water for Tamil Nadu to the detriment of its drinking water requirements, the Supreme Court on Tuesday suggested to Tamil Nadu that it take up the matter with the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) headed by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Supreme Court on Thursday made it clear to the Centre that it had no power to allocate coal blocks to private companies and sought legal explanation from Attorney-General G.E. Vahanvati for making the allotments.

A Bench of Justices R.M. Lodha and J. Chelameswar told the AG that there was absolutely no power given to the Centre under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. It was vested only with the States.

Karnataka government on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court for expediting the hearing and adjudication of the appeals filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala against the final decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal dated February 5, 2007 in the interest of the States concerned.

The State in its application said “the final order of the tribunal has placed an enormous burden on Karnataka to release 192 tmcft at Biligundlu, the inter-State border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.”

Order follows Andaman and Nicobar Administration’s January 17 notification

The Supreme Court on Monday banned tourists from taking the Andaman Nicobar Trunk Road that passes through the area where the Jarawas live. The road is used to reach the Limestone Cave. The court has already banned all commercial and tourism activities within a five-km radius of the Jarawa Tribal Reserve on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Tamil Nadu on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking a directive to Karnataka to release forthwith 12 tmcft of water so that it could save at least a portion of the standing crops in the Cauvery Delta and meet its drinking water requirements.

At its 32nd meeting on January 10, the Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC) declined to grant any relief to Tamil Nadu.