In a major step that could finally break the logjam over forest and environmental clearances to linear projects, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has agreed to sort out issues coming in the way of implementing these projects, as far as requirements under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) are concerned.

Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo told The Indian Express that his ministry would support these projects, considering the need for roads and railways in tribal areas.

Upset over the failure of the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to frame forest clearance norms as directed by the Supreme Court and the resultant delays in road projects, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planing to take up the matter with the court afresh. The authority’s move comes after it secured a favourable opinion from both the law ministry and the Cabinet secretariat, official sources told FE.

Delays in environmental approvals — usually attributed to the existing policy of linking the same to forest clearances — and procedural issues have affected implementation of national highway projects worth R23,000 crore. This is at a time the Prime Minister’s Office and finance ministry are asking all wings of the government to make concerted efforts to speed up infrastructure projects to accelerate economic growth.

The human rights report contains five major sections dealing with different issues pertaining to the civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh.

To ensure livelihood of tribals, says member

ML Rungta, Rungta Mines, Indrani Patnaik and Serajuddin among offenders

The vigilance department in Odisha has initiated cases against mine owners in connection with illegal mining. The miners against whom cases have been lodged include ML Rungta (Silijora-Kalamati iron ore & manganse mines), Rungta Mines Ltd (Jajang iron ore & manganese mines), Indrani Patnaik (Unchabali iron ore & manganese mines) and Sirajuddin & Company (iron ore mines). All these mine owners have their leases under Joda circle in Keonjhar district, minister for steel & mines Rajani Kant Singh informed the state assembly in a written reply.

Clause debarring judges from making verbal comments against any constitutional authority in open courts retained, with some change

The Cabinet today cleared the controversial Land Acquisition Bill, which also addresses disputed takeovers of the past and seeks to resolve these. The renamed Bill — The Right to Fair Compensation, Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Bill — emphasises compensation for all land acquired and seeks to apply this with retrospective effect in all cases where takeovers are disputed or compensation is pending or disputed, sources said.

Writes To Jayanthi, Says FAC Illegally Giving Forests To Industry

Recommends withdrawal of forest clearance

The Elephant Task Force constituted by the High Court has recommended cancellation of the lease granted to mushrooming mini hydel power projects in the Western Ghats, particularly in Sakleshpur region. Contrary to the contentions that there is not much forest cover in Sakleshpur region where some mini hydel power plants have been permitted, the report states that 65 per cent of the landscape is under forest cover and lies along the crest line of the Western Ghats.

The Haryana government has chosen to bypass the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) in order to have prime Aravalli forest land transferred to build a golf course.

Instead, they have submitted an application directly in the Supreme Court where they have shown 160 acres of Aravalli forest land to be “barren land”. This, they believe can be converted to build a golf course, waterways and an amusement park. The Aravalli forest stretch that the developers are eyeing is part of a 350 acre Aravalli forest stretch.

PANJIM: In the wake of Supreme Court order suspending mining operations in the State, including halt on transportation of iron ore, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has decided to hold a s

Pages