A.P. Shah surprised that State Human Rights Commission has not intervened

A jury that presided over a public hearing on the alleged State suppression of democratic rights on the Kudankulam issue here on Monday will petition the National Human Rights Commission against the foisting of “omnibus FIRs” accusing thousands of anti-Kudankulam protestors of sedition.

Taking a tough stand on environmental issues, the Gujarat High Court has directed steelmaker Electrotherm (India) Ltd to close down its manufacturing plant in Kutch district and quashed the environmental clearance granted to it by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest without holding a public hearing as per rules.

Electrotherm's 36,000 tonne per annum (tpa) facility for producing structural steel, alloy steel and stainless steel at Samkhiali in Bhachau taluka of Kutch district is also known for making of Yo-bikes, India's first battery-run two-wheelers.

Shimla: The political storm raised by the high court verdict quashing the environmental clearance to the 25 MW thermal plant of Jaypee Associates Limited (JAL) is set to intensify further with Chief Minister PK Dhumal blaming the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for allowing a truncated project.

Newly-appointed Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Sudripta Roy on Thursday confirmed that all Jaiprakash Associate Limited projects and properties will now come under the scanner after large-scale irregularities by the company were pointed out by the High Court.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court recently imposed a fine of Rs.100 crore on the company's Bagheri cement plant in Solan after discovering that it had flouted environmental laws and wrongfully acquired the land of native people.

PANJIM: The Manohar Parrikar-led government’s decision to hike power tariff has not gone well with the industries in the state. The apex trade body, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has claimed that the hike will affect as many as 140 industries, mostly from steel and pharma sector, largely dependent on electricity as one of their raw material.

The industries are all set for a public hearing on May 23, wherein Central government’s Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission will be submitted a memorandum opposing the hike. The commission will be holding a public hearing to seek public suggestions before imposing the hike.

Environment and forest clearance for 89 power projects is pending with the Government, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

While 41 power projects are awaiting environment clearance, 48 power projects require diversion of forest land, the Environment Minister, Ms Jayanthi Natarajan, said during Question Hour.

She said a total of 165 power projects were granted environment clearance and 143 power projects given forest clearance during the last three years.

Dismiss discoms' claim; accuse regulator of inaction

The mood was belligerent at a public hearing organised by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission here on Thursday to assess consumer feedback before finalising the new power tariff. Reacting to the discoms' demands for a power tariff hike, angry consumers not only dismissed their claims but also expressed dismay over what they alleged was DERC's “inaction”.

SHILLONG: Most of the headmen of Raid Lyngshing (Lynshing traditional chiefdom), which covers more than 20 villages under Mawkynrew Community and Rural Development ( C&RD) Block in East Khasi Hills, today opposed the proposed (3 x 80 MW) Umngot Hydro Electric Project. The opposing voices were heard during the public hearing organized by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) and the East Khasi Hills District Administration at Siang Khnai Village, 70 kms from here.

A section of the residents' welfare associations in the city has decided to protest at the public hearing being organised by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission this Thursday to register their grievances against the Commission.

The DERC is holding a public hearing on the true-up for the financial year 2010-11, review and provisional true-up for financial year 2011-12 and multi-year tariff petitions for financial years 2012-13 and 2014-15.