close to the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa to stop their operations.

PANJIM: In a major development, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has directed two mines operating within 10 kms of the Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary in Sanguem taluka to shut down operations with immediate effect for failing to get clearance from the National Wildlife Board.

The orders have been issued on August 13 to two mining leases operated by – Gangadhar Narsinghdas Agrawal and Pandurang Timblo Industries, under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

New Delhi The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has defended its position on the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) report citing delayed green nods that has hindered coal production. The ministry said it gave clearances in excess of what was required and projects are pending as these clearances are still unultilised.

The ministry claims to have given clearances worth 2.71 lakh MW of power capacity of which only 55,000 MW have been used till now. Further, it claims to have cleared 800 mt of coal against current demand of 436 mt. The ministry also said that most of the projects didn't furnish information related to coal linkages, acreage and sulphur content which delayed the green nods.

Among major projects stalled awaiting new legislation are Posco, ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel and Coal India

More than a century after it was drawn up by British colonial rulers, India's land acquisition law is finally set for a revamp that promises to breathe life into scores of frozen industrial and infrastructure projects and help lift the sagging economy.

So, why the power crisis? Reasons are deeply systemic & extremely worrying. There is no doubt that supply is constrained

The power outage in northern India on two days should not be dismissed or misjudged. Analysts are jumping to the conclusion that the crisis was foretold. They blame delays caused by environment and forest clearance procedures and demand the winding-down of the regulatory framework, so that we can re-energise ourselves. Their other favourite whipping horse is “free” electricity to farmers, which is said to be crippling the state electricity boards. These explanations are naïve and mistaken. India’s power sector does need urgent reform, but first we need to know what to fix.

A nine-member working group will examine the ecology expert panel report

The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel report, submitted by ecologist Madhav Gadgil last year, was further delaying the Rs 30,000-crore refinery project of Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) in Maharashtra, a senior official of the state-run oil marketing firm said. The project has already been delayed due to bureaucratic red tape.

The National Committee in Solidarity with Jaitapur Struggle — a group of like-minded political people opposed to setting up nuclear power projects — has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to cancel the proposed plant in the coastal town of Maharashtra.

Citing concerns over the safety of the proposed reactors at Jaitapur and the financial credentials of the French company building them, the Committee has said the Centre and the Maharashtra government do not seem to have paid due attention to the serious objections raised by experts, parliamentarians, public figures and the local people.