High cost, dull market and strict green norms add to mining industry's woes

Slow growth pace in the mining sector is hurting mineral processing units in Gujarat. At least 500 small and medium mineral processing units have curtailed their operations by half over the past three months and some more are likely to follow suit as high cost of operations and dull market conditions add to industry woes.

AHMEDABAD: A comprehensive ban on gutkha across the state from September 11 declared by the CM Narendra Modi might just be the panacea Ahmedabad needed to safeguard its youth from the jaws of death. Ahmedabad is the capital of oral cancers caused by tobacco consumption in India. Against the average prevalence of 40 per cent tobacco-related cancers (TRC) in India, the prevalence of TRC is Ahmedabad urban and rural population is a staggering 55 per cent, revealed figures.

Union Minister of State for Petrochemicals and Natural Gas, RPN Singh on Sunday refuted claims made by Gujarat government of discrimination over allocation and pricing of natural gas.

The minister who was in Ahmedabad to attend the review meeting of oil marketing companies alleged that the state government was misleading the people by giving out false information about the allocation of natural gas to Gujarat and also about the price that it was being given.

Maheshbhai Patel is busy attending to customers in his small grocery shop in Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation estate in Vapi, Gujarat.

AHMEDABAD: Food subsidies have grown by more than 300 per cent in a period of six years between 2006-07 and 2011-12, says a study by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A).

According to the study, food subsidies increased from Rs 2,850 crore in 1991-92 to about Rs 72,823 crore in 2011-12, an increase of over 25 times in 21 years. As a result, its share in total central government subsidies under non-planed expenditure increased from 23.3 per cent to 33.7 per cent.

Farmers To Get Seeds, Fertilizers Worth . 1500 Free

Gandhinagar:As a sop to farmers hit by water scarcity across the state, the Gujarat government has implemented a new scheme to encourage cultivation of fodder. Under the scheme, the government is providing fodder seeds and fertilizers up to Rs 1,500 free of cost. Officials told TOI that the scheme is being extended to farmers who plan to plant fodder crops on their land covering an area half an acre to two acres.

CM Announces Comprehensive Ban During I-Day Speech

Ahmedabad: The numbers 9/11 just got new meaning in Gujarat. Instead of a war on terror, they will signify a war on the deadly addiction of gutka and will come into force from September 11. During his Independence Day speech in Junagadh on Wednesday, chief minister Narendra Modi announced a comprehensive ban on the addictive substance across the state.

AHMEDABAD: The illegal trade of turtles in markets of Ahmedabad continues to mushroom unabated. Last year, the trend was to bring home the Red-eared slider of Singapore, this year it is the native Indian roofed turtle or Pangshura tecta.

The turtle, endemic to the Ganges, is terrestrial and lives in fresh water. The reptile goes on to live for 200 years, if reared in its natural habitat, does not survive for more than 20 days after it's bought from pet shops in the city.

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Thursday sought explanation from the authorities concerned over the wastage of nearly 3,000 quintal of foodgrain in rains at Vadodara railway station earlier this month.

On the basis of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Ritesh Koshtri, a bench of Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala issued notice to the Western Railway, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the union agriculture ministry. All have been asked to explain the wastage of huge stock of wheat on August 12.

The issue, which has been raised with the union shipping ministry in the past, is likely to be raised at the next meeting of the Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) scheduled to be held in September.

“We deposit about Rs 5 crore per annum with the Central government as the oil pollution cess. We should be getting back some portion of it. Having already spent Rs 50 lakh for maintaining an agency, we require money for combating oil pollution in future also. Where is the money going tocomefrom?” said the official.