<p>Order of the Supreme Court in the matter of Sugra Adiwasi & Others Vs Pathranand & Others dated 29/04/2025. The bench of Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed
Move hopes to end acrimony between Govt panel looking after diversion of forest land for developmental projects and Central Empowered Committee NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 21: In the light of repeated acrimonius exchanges between the Central Empowered Committee (CEC)
The state government has said the Centre has been satisfied with the outcome of the public hearing regarding the Mangalore special economic zone (MSEZ) and a final meeting on the crucial environmental management plan (EMP) of the project has been fixed for February 28. "If we get the approval after the Thursday's hearing, work can start on the project,' Karnataka Governor's advisor Krishna Kumar informed Deccan Herald. The meeting will be held by the technical committee of the Expert Committee for Infrastructure Development and Miscellaneous Project, set up by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. The farmers have been opposing the acquisition of land. They have urged the Government to reject the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) report on the project. According to the advisor, a total of 1,750 acre, out of the 2500 acre needed for the SEZ, has already been acquired. "The government has issued notification for 300 acre for acquisition. We are discussing the issue with the farmers,' he added. On the public hearing, Krishna Kumar said the Union ministry has prepared the report on the EIA of the project and circulated it to the gram panchayats. "The GPs wanted the copies in Kannada and we have translated and given these copies. The ministry has concluded that the public hearings were held as per law. The meetings were held in January and February. Now the technical committee will hear the EMP. If we get the approval after the meeting, we can start work on the project. We have come a long way in the last 2-3 months regarding this multi-product SEZ,' Kumar stated. Promoters The Rs 35,000 crore SEZ is being set up by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) as anchor co-promoter using a special purpose vehicle owned by its subsidiary Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), which will hold a 46 per cent stake. The other equity-holders are the Karnataka Government, Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited. ONGC would hold 26 per cent of the equity in the incorporated company. The State government would hold 23 per cent and the balance 51 per cent would be jointly owned by KCCI and IL&FS. The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) is understood to have shown interest to join the SEZ, subject to approval from the Ministry of Shipping, Road and Transport. If NMPT joins, the combined equity of KIADB and NMPT would be 23 per cent. The MRPL has envisaged projects such as an LNG terminal, C2-C3 separation units and aromatic and olefin complexes in the petrochemical component of the SEZ. The SEZ will also include a refinery, a power plant, a gas terminal and a pipeline.
With the ministry of forests and environment (MoEF) giving the crucial environment clearance, implementation of Tata Power's 4,000-mw Mundra ultra mega power project (UMPP) has gathered momentum. However, Reliance Power's 4,000-mw Sasan UMPP is yet to receive the MoEF clearance. The ministry has emphasised the need for an integrated proposal for forest clearance, covering forest area involved in the project limits, and the mining area. While the implementation schedule of the main plant of Sasan project is spread over five years, the development of mines takes about two years. Thus, with the main plant in the process of being implemented, the forest clearance proposal for the mining area can be submitted separately after obtaining an approval for the mining plan. According to power ministry sources, "Power secretary Anil Razdan has recently reviewed the implementation progress of Mundra and Sasan UMPPs. The Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (CGPL)
The role of forest dwellers is most important to save forests, who are living in forests for centuries. The natural habitat of these tribals is also jungle like wildlife. Basically they depend upon forest produce and if the solution is sought for their problems at their home then they might be the real saviour of forests and wildlife. Under this concept a scheme has been started to provide them with livilihood resources who are dependent on forest areas. This scheme aims to lessen their dependency on forests. According to the directives of Forest Minister, the forest department is making allocation for funds. For collecting additional amount for the scheme the Forest Minister has given directives to establish coordination with other departments' schemes. Conservator of Forest (livelihood) has been appointed as nodal officer for this work. Nodal officer receiving the proposals from field officers would provide livelihood to the villagers according to their capacity and on the basis of their consent. For different kinds of livelihood and resources a budget provision would be made available. The state government would provide funds for construction of buildings and machinery and Joint Forest Management Committee would provide amount for other works. In the first phase of this scheme, some of the villagers of district would be identified whose means of employment is selling wood after collecting from jungles or who are involved in illegal cutting of trees to earn their livelihood. Such persons would be provided employment resources on priority basis, so that they might be helpful in conservation of forests. It is a good initiative of the State government. This move would ensure security and safety of forests. With this initiative the villagers living in remote areas would get alternative and good employment resources. Role of these forest dwellers would henceforth become more important and wildlife and environment would be remain safe.
<p>On my last couple of days in Cancun, while vestiges of the sense of despondency and low achievement of the initial days remain, Indian environment minister Jairam Ramesh's impromptu statement on "binding commitments" and "appropriate legal form" has jerked many pundits -- especially those from the subcontinent -- up.
<p>If you believe the financial press, one of the biggest environmental stories this past year has been the question of "go" and "no go" areas for coal mining.
<div> <div class="viewer">On June 12th, <a target="_blank" title="//articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-12/india/29649545_1_land-acquisition-forest-clearance-environmental-clearance" href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-12/india/29649545_1_land-acquisition-forest-clearance-environmental-clearance" class="externalLink">Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh made national
Dr S Satpathy is Director of Climate Change Division in Ministry Of Environment & Forests, Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.
At Right to be Heard Townhall show, Environmental minister Jayathi Natarajan said emergency action needs to be taken to clean up the Yamuna flowing near Delhi. <iframe width="540" height="400" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/juqrZUn07LI"
Two monopolies. One private and the other public; one in gas and one in coal. Both equally disastrous for the environment. I speak here of Reliance Industries Ltd and Coal India Ltd. We know that air
