Arguing that indiscriminate exploitation of mineral resources was leading to alienation amongst local tribal populations and furthering the cause of Naxalite groups, Minister for Tribal Affairs V Kishore Chandra Deo has advocated a ban on export of raw materials like iron ore or bauxite. Mineral resources like iron ore should be declared "national wealth" and their use must be regulated in the larger interest of the country, Deo said in an interview.

For many disadvantaged communities in developing countries, ecological issues are not a matter of luxury, but a matter of survival. In India, protests and social movements are expressing these worries.

The Supreme Court is to be commended for its order banning the Salwa Judum. But the Salwa Judum was already a thing of the past; its worst phase was in 2005-06. The violence now in the amoral war in Chhattisgarh is being conducted as part of Operation Greenhunt. When will that be banned?

Off-grid photovoltaic systems often fail in remote villages in India due to poor monitoring and lack of maintenance. Theft is another major issue. While most of these systems are installed under central or state-run programs, a lack of maintenance staff at remote locations makes monitoring difficult. But the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh is different.

In April this year, Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra made history. One of its villages became the country’s first to win the right to sell and harvest bamboo. Down To Earth reports how India's largest paper manufacturing company Ballarpur Industries Limited (BILT) is using most of the bamboo in Maharashtra, leaving little for residents.