If the results of the recently concluded panchayat elections are anything to go by, the issue of conversion of farmland into industrial plots will continue to make or mar political fortunes in the state in the years to come. Strangely enough, brick kilns are destroying vast quantity of fertile soil every year in North 24-Parganas even as people of Singur and Nandigram have showed their avid dislike for those who tried to grab their land.

Gurgaon

PANJIM, JUNE 26

PANJIM, JUNE 26

State-owned exploration giant Oil and Natural Gas Corporation on Monday decided to exit the Rs 25,600 crore Kakinada refinery, petrochemicals and SEZ project. It will be replaced by infrastructure major GMR Group which would get 51% equity in the venture, that had also been eyed by the Hinduja group.

Industry calls for "flexible transparent" allotment policy WAR AGAINST LAND RIGHTS: Anti-POSCO activists demonstrating in front of the company's office in Bhubaneswar in Orissa.

Goa's Movement Against SEZs (GMAS) has questioned the move of the government to acquire huge tracts of land for allocation to educational institutions from India and abroad. This issue was discussed among others by GMAS, at a meeting held on Saturday. "Parting with nearly 40 lakh sq mt land for so-called higher educational commercial institutions appears to be another attempt to sell Goa to builders and land sharks from all over India and abroad', said a statement issued by GMAS.

The Rs 31,000-crore refinery and petrochemical plant being planned by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh is likely to have a new partner

The SEZ Virodhi Manch has reiterated that no compensation whatsoever should be paid by the government to the SEZ promoters, saying the Board of approvals have violated SEZ rules in hastily approving the notifying the SEZ. Welcoming the government decision of revoking the land allotted for SEZ purpose by the GIDC and claiming it to be a victory of the people, the Manch prayed that there is no hidden agenda in the decision and that the government stays with the people in the same manner till the land is finally revoked officially and the three notified SEZs are denotified.