Tripura has given land rights to more than one lakh tribal families under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

The Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan on Sunday called for stringent punishment to those who violate environmental laws. No serious imprisonment is currently provided for violators of environmental laws. This needs to be changed, she said.

Inaugurating the VIT-The Hindu Education Plus Club on the VIT University campus here, Ms. Natarajan said that there should be utter transparency in matters concerning environment. Everything connected with environment should be monitored so that the violators of rules do not go scot-free, she said.

New Delhi: There has been an added push in the clearance of key infrastructure projects since the return of P Chidambaram in the finance minister’s saddle.

Say It Is Not A ‘Grass’ But A ‘Tree’, Can’t Be Harvested.

New Delhi In a major step towards women empowerment, the Centre is planning a new legislation that will make the woman of the house the chief beneficiary of the compensation for land acquired for mining projects. According to officials in the mining ministry, the move will not only ensure the compensation amount is spent wisely but also give women a bigger role in financial decision-making.

The draft new Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2011 — which is currently being vetted by a parliamentary standing committee — provides for sharing of 26% of profit by coal miners and an amount equivalent to royalty by others (in case of other minerals) with project-affected people. The money is to be distributed to beneficiaries through a District Mineral Development Fund.

Positive change in 74 sq km

The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has recorded a substantial increase in forest cover in Tamil Nadu. According to a recent FSI report, during 2011, a positive change was seen in 74 sq km of forest area. There has been a net increase of 287 sq km in forest cover. The analysis reveals an increase of 22 sq km in very dense forest cover; 74 sq km in moderate dense forest cover; and decrease of 22 sq km in open forest type.