Ultra mega power projects need not identify land to get forest clearance

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paved the way for faster implementation of ultra mega power projects (UMPP) on Wednesday, easing the requirement for private players to identify nonforest land for compensatory afforestation, which is a time-consuming process and essential for getting forest clearances.

In an interim relief to mining companies, the Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Goa government to e-auction around 11.48 million tonnes of excavated iron ore stock lying idle in mines in the stat

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said that his government is committed to increase the State’s forest cover by another 90 per cent by controlling shifting cultivation, arresting forest f

Cost of environmental and social loss involved in coal mining and thermal power generation in coal-bearing States, including Odisha, has been estimated to be enormous.

A Planning Commission of India-supported study finds many of losses apart from displacement and forest diversion triggered by coal mining and thermal power generation are not compensated.

While there has been an increase of about seven per cent in the forest cover in Punjab, a number of irregularities in the utilisation of funds and land management have come to the fore.

After spending over Rs283 crore on relocation of villages from reserves, sanctuaries and national parks in Maharashtra in the last 12 years, the state government would require a further Rs 900 cror

Net Present Value was not realised from user agencies in seven cases

Tamil Nadu has its share of adverse comment in the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) relating to diversion of vast tracts of forest lands for development and industrial projects, mismanagement in realisation of Net Present Value (NPV) from user agencies and in managing compensatory and penal funds for afforestation.