BHAWANIPATNA: After operating its refinery at Lanjigarh for seven years, Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) on Saturday announced a temporary shutdown of its unit due to lack of raw material.

Within weeks after framing guidelines for renewal of mining leases and reserving all unleased mines to the state-run PSU, Orissa Mining Corporation, the Naveen Patnaik government on Tuesday formed

PANJIM: While the mining industry has taken a beating this season, Goa’s tourism industry is upbeat as its season begins this week.

Stakeholders, even though upset with delays and discrepancies are being cautious so as not to upset the tourism applecart which would probably bring some solace to the State economy. In fact the hotel industry claims that this year would bring in more tourists particularly domestic tourists who continue to be the high spending segment over and above international and charter tourists.

New Delhi: After ordering cancellation of mining lease in tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh, tribal affairs minister Kishore Chandra Deo is set to raise hackles by writing to governors to invoke speci

PANJIM: While Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s ambitious March Budget for 2012-13, held out a major promise to boost agriculture through mechanized farming, talukas of Sanguem, Quepem, Sattari and Bicholim are witnessing its slow death with the onslaught of mining.

Now there appear to be little hope for the growth of agriculture in these four talukas where it was once the mainstay. The talukas constitute 67 per cent of state’s geographical area, but sustained devastation has ensured that their green topography has disappeared due to the assault from mining activities.

Uncertainty over revival of mining activity in Goa in near future is forcing barge operators to scout for new locations outside the state.

This is evident from the steady flow of applications the Department of Ports, which is authorised to register and regulate vessels, is receiving from barge owners seeking NOC to move out of the coastal state. Vessels that used to do brisk business by ferrying ore from jetties to harbours when mining trade flourished in the state are now looking for business in states like Maharashtra and Gujarat.

PANAJI, 11 OCT: Uncertainty over revival of mining activity in Goa in near future is forcing barge operators to scout for new locations outside the state.

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.

Justice M B Shah Commission, which is probing the mining scam in different states, shall have to visit Odisha for third time as it cannot complete the probe in its current visit.

Five mining leases with a combined capacity of 2.56 mt are waiting for final approval to restart mining in Bellary & Chitradurga districts

The resumption of iron ore mining in Karnataka is likely to be delayed as none of the Category A mines is able to secure all statutory approvals stipulated by the Supreme Court. The apex court had lifted ban on 18 Category A mines to resume mining subject to fulfilment of stringent conditions in its order passed on September 3. The order followed the acceptance of a report of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which had recommended relaxation of the prohibition as they had done the least harm to the environment.