Hundreds of villagers staged protests against proposed Rio Tinto diamond mining project at Bunder at Kasera village of Chhatarpur district in Bundelkhand region, on Wednesday.

The demonstration was held during a public hearing held by district collector Masood Akhtar on the issue.

BHOPAL: The Public Health Engineering Department has completed 621 drinking water schemes sanctioned under Bundelkhand package so far at a cost of Rs 21.29 crore.

Total 1287 drinking water schemes costing about Rs 100 crore were sanctioned to 6 districts under Bundelkhand package, including Sagar, Chhatarpur, Panna, Tikamgarh, Damoh and Datia. Public Health Engineering Minister GaurishankarBisen has directed departmental officers to complete under-construction schemes under the package at the earliest.

Steel producer Southern Ispat & Energy Ltd (SIEL) is planning to enter into backward integration by setting up a 1.2 -million tonne pelletisation plant in Chattarpur, Madhya Pradesh. With an estimated investment of Rs 300 crore, the plant is set to start operations by April 2014.

SIEL will invest Rs 150 crore in the first phase. The remaining investment would be done in the second phase. The company has already acquired 100 acres in Chattarpur and is expected to start its beneficiation and pelletisation process by April 2014, said a senior company official.

Bhopal, 25 July: Madhya Pradesh government has decided to allot over 282 hectares of land to NTPC for setting up two thermal power projects in the state.

Madhya Pradesh Government on Wednesday extended the tenure of the Union Carbide Toxic Gas Leak Probe Commission by an year, sources said.

Solar photovoltaic plants of 280 kilowatt have been fitted with the cooperation of the New and Renewable Energy Department in 28 community health centres in the state with a view ensuring to availa