Says it has made significant progress in securing the minimum required land for the project

Steel maker Posco India has sought an extension of the in-principle approval for its multi-product special economic zone (SEZ), proposed to be set up near Paradeep in coastal Odisha. The approval for the project expires on October 25. The steel maker has requested the Odisha government to forward its no-objection certificate (NOC) to the board of approvals under the Union commerce ministry, as required under Rule-4 of SEZ Rules, 2006.

SHILLONG: The State Government is trying to ascertain the truth behind the report in a vernacular daily that the Assam Government is conducting a survey on the Khri river in West Khasi Hills for implementing a power project.

Besides information regarding a survey, the report also stated that the power project is likely to displace a large number of villagers who are residing close to the Khri river.

PANJIM: Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya said on Wednesday that all 42 mining leases, which were issued show cause notices for illegal condonation of delay last month, have filed their replies and a decision with regard to the status of the condonations would be taken by end of this month. Acharya also said that the decision pertaining to illegal encroachments, as identified in Justice MB Shah Commission Report, would be also taken by Oct-end.

State government, on September 10 had issued show cause notices to 42 mining firms, returnable by October 10, to explain why action should not be initiated against them for unlawful condonation of delay and why they should not be declared as null and void.

KOLKATA, 7 OCT: Even after the East Kolkata Wetland Management Authority (EKWMA) had served stop work notice to a proposed vocational training centre for an illegal construction (in sns photo) at t

GUWAHATI: As problems of artificial floods and water-logging continue to harass the people of Guwahati city, the cause of these problems are not far to seek. The occupation of the city’s wetlands— the reservoir of rain waters, have not just disturbed the ecology of the area but have also increased the woes of the common people here in the heart of the city, who are forced to tread in the sludge that submerges most part of the city, during a brief spell of rain.

The encroachment of these wetlands is not a new issue. Innumerable complaints have been filed, order of eviction have been passed and assurances have been given by the government to protect the wetlands. However, at the end of the day, the efforts are nullified by the lack of action from the district administration, who despite being fully aware of the encroachment have failed to step up its boots to evict them.

The Goa government on Wednesday announced the formation of a high-level committee to be headed by a retired high court judge to probe the irregularities pointed out by Justice M B Shah panel in its report on iron ore mining in the state.

“The Independent High Level Investigation Committee (IHLIC) will be headed by retired high court judge R M Khandeparkar, and will submit its report within two months,” Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters after the Cabinet approved setting up of the panel. Justice M B Shah commission in its report tabled in Parliament had pegged the iron ore scam at Rs 35,000 crore and indicted several private players besides public servants for their acts of omission and commission.

A proposal to classify river courses in the State into various eco-zones for their conservation and management is getting ready.

This forms part of the guidelines prepared by the Department of Environment and Climate Change for the conservation and protection of river systems in the State. The eco-zones, it is proposed, will be demarcated based on the climatic and geomorphic features of each course, the extent of its degradation, and the scope for its restoration. Permissible activities will be notified for each zone.

The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday fined six industrial groups and two brick fields Tk 1.1 crore on charges of polluting and grabbing rivers around the capital.

While turning a blind eye to the increasing number of encroachments along the Musi river bed, the GHMC has prepared grand plans to seek Rs 752 crore funding from the Centre for the river front deve

PANJIM: Though State Government had initiated a few steps, following disclosure of the magnitude of illegalities in mining by Shah Commission report last week, activists, however, do not seem to be satisfied.

Now that illegalities of mining companies have come in full public view, they expect that mining companies should be compelled to pay back illegal profits cornered by them during last few years.