Decrying indiscriminate use of natural resources and deforestation in the name of growth, Union Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan today said that industries and corporates should focus on protecting the environment and ensure balanced and sustained development.

"...There are some industries, which feel that we should indiscriminately use natural resources, cut down our forests and use them for growth," she told reporters here on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute, an autonomous body under the union ministry of environment.

PANJIM: The Union Ministry of Mines dropped a bombshell Friday, by shooting a copy of the letter addressed to Orissa government to all State governments which says that basic Central government permissions were needed before renewal of mining leases and permissions from the Indian Bureau of Mines and assessment of amount of mineral left in the lease, feasibility and other such criteria need to be adhered to.

The two-page directions received by State Directorate of Mines come on the heels of the communiqué from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests stating that leases cannot be renewed in case any part of the mining lease comes within forest areas and for which forest clearance has to be obtained.

The FM wants credit for acting on environment, but does the wrong things

The "mool mantra" of Budget 2013 is inclusive and sustainable development, says Finance Minister P Chidambaram. But, as far as the environment is concerned, there is no substance in the Budget that tells us how the direction of growth will be environmentally sound. Instead, the finance minister talks about the Cabinet Committee on Investment, which has been set up to fast-track clearances. There is no indication in his speech that this drive for investment will be cognisant of the needs for sustainability and will strengthen, not weaken, the regulatory system that governs green clearances.

BHUBANESWAR: Taking advantage of the budget session being in recess, the Odisha government has begun preparations to shortly resume land acquisition for the proposed Posco steel project in Jagatsinghpur district, official sources said on Wednesday.

"We intend to restart land acquisition for Posco this week," a government source told TOI, refusing to divulge the date from which the operations would be launched again. The issue was discussed at a meeting chaired by chief secretary B K Patnaik on Tuesday evening, but government and Posco representatives are tight-lipped about the deliberations.

BHUBANESWAR: Under the microscope for allegedly engaging in illegalities, several mine owners on Wednesday raised objections before the Justice M B Shah Commission to the manner in which boundaries of mines were determined using satellite images.

Various miners, represented by prominent lawyers, strongly pleaded before the inquiry commission for a fresh physical verification of the boundaries of different mines.

In a bid to drive out the highways sector from a severe financial crunch, the Economic Survey proposed to ease exit norms for developers to free up equity for new projects.

“In current market conditions, these firms are unable to raise new equity. Exit route needs to be eased so that promoters can sell equity positions after construction, passing on all benefits and responsibilities to entities that step in,” the survey, presented in Parliament on Wednesday said.

However, balance in growth needs, environmental concerns while undertaking such steps should be ensured

Delays in environment clearances needs to be addressed on a fast-track basis for achieving coal production target of 795 MT during the current five year plan (2012-17), the Economic Survey said today. "Problems like delays in obtaining environmental clearances, land acquisitions and rehabilitation need to be suitably addressed in fast-track mode to achieve the 12th Plan targets for coal production," the Survey tabled in Parliament said. It should, however, be ensured that there is a balance between growth needs and environmental concerns while undertaking such steps.