2 yrs have elapsed since state had demanded free power in Sep 2010 but Centre is yet to respond

Odisha is sore over the Centre's apathy towards its demand for allocation of free power from coal-fired power plants and power generated from coal washery based rejects. Two years have elapsed since the state had demanded free power in September 2010 but the Centre is yet to respond. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union minister for power for allocation of free power.

Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Monday said that Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by him to consider the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill would clear the legislation in a week’s time. The GoM’s clearance may enable the land bill to be tabled in the Parliament in the Winter session.

Earlier, the Union Cabinet had referred the land bill to the GoM to reconcile difference in opinion of various ministries. A number of Union ministers, including Anand Sharma, C.P. Joshi, had opposed the provisions of the land bill.

Demand to consider plea to write off loans

Hundreds of endosulfan victims in the district are awaiting news from the State government which has, in principal, agreed to implement the relief and rehabilitation packages suggested by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Hopes were raised after the visit of the three-member team of Ministers who held discussions with various agencies and organisations that have been fighting for the cause of the victims for years.

Shillong: The traditional chiefs of Meghalaya have called upon Union Power minister, M Veerappa Moily, to accelerate the process of complete electrification in Meghalaya.

In a memorandum submitted to the Union Power Minister during his visit to the city on Monday, the chairman of the traditional chiefs of Meghalaya, JF Kharshiing, mentioned that introduction of innovative measures and flexibility in the State would help rural land and home owners to generate their own solar/ hydro electricity to be able to sell it back to the grid, as done in many countries today.

Apprehensive that opposition by a small faction could derail or at least delay the 3,200 Mega Watt (MW) Super Thermal Power Plant (STPP) of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), affected villa

JAMMU, Sept 14: The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) today approved the implementation of the construction of the 6.50 kms long two lane bi-directional tunnel on a new alignment in between

All weather connectivity to Ladakh

The Government today approved construction of a tunnel at Z-Morh in Jammu & Kashmir at a cost of Rs 2,717 crore to provide all weather connectivity between Srinagar and Leh. The decision to give nod to 6.5 km long tunnel was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) at its meeting here. The tunnel will be built on build, operate and transfer (annuity) basis.

PANJIM: After taking to the road in last year’s protest, mining truck owners have now given a green signal to Manohar Parrikar-led government over closure of the mining industry with a rider -- the All Goa Truck Owners Association (AGTOA) has asked that state government to work out a rehabilitation plan to secure their future, before closing the industry.

Prior to the Friday evening meeting with Parrikar, AGTOA President Nilkhant Gawas told Herald that they have no issue if the government wants to impose a ban on the mining industry, but the decision should not be sudden.

Under the Central government’s scheme of Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP), five slums of Shillong have been selected for upgradation.

The selected slums are Mawbah, Demseniong, Lower Mawprem, Pyntohrumkhrah and Kynjatphutbol. Informing this here on Thursday, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said that the total project cost has been estimated Rs 2129.73 lakh of which the Centre’s share will be Rs 1658.05 lakh. The rest will to borne by the state government.