A Bill that seeks to amend the existing law governing exploration and production of oil and gas as well as delink petroleum operations from mining operations was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (March 12, 2025). The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024, is aimed at boosting investment …
BICHOLIM: The issue of no-objection certificates (NOC) granted by the panchayat secretary to mining companies in the village dominated the recent Mayem-Vaiginim gram sabha. At a special gram sabha held recently, residents highlighted the problems faced by truck owners, while others came down heavily on mining companies. During the discussion, …
MAYEM: Residents of Navelim on Sunday demanded with the State government to restart legal mines in the State. The residents made the demand at the Navelim Gram Sabha, which was specially called by the panchayat to discuss the crisis faced by truck owners and others dependent on mining. Most of …
The new “investor-friendly” version of the controversial land Bill was today cleared by a group of ministers led by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. The consent of two-thirds of landowners would now be required for acquiring land for public-private-partnership (PPP) and private projects. According to sources, the revised version had no …
The Prime Minister’s Office has asked the Environment Ministry to consider exempting construction of railway tracks, roads and power transmission lines from mandatory clearances under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) to expedite environmental clearances for these projects. Such projects are known as ‘line infrastructure projects’ and the land acquired for …
This is the draft MGNREGA operational guidelines for suggestions/observations of State Government. The MGNREGA has given rise to the largest employment programme in human history and is unlike any other wage employment programme in its scale, architecture and thrust. Its bottom-up, people-centred, demand-driven, self-selecting, rights-based design is distinct and unprecedented. …
A petition was filed on Wednesday in the Supreme Court to restrain the resumption of iron and manganese ore mining in Goa amid a judicial commission estimating a loss of Rs 35,000 crore to the exchequer due to illegal mining there since 2000. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed …
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said that the government would bring in amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 to make it stringent and increase its penal provisions for wildlife crimes as well as introduce roles for the gram sabhas and the panchayats in the declaration and management of …
Korba: While Parliament remains stalled over the CAG report on coal block allocations, a land acquisition row threatens to disrupt production at India’s largest open cast coal mine. In fact, it exposes a deeper malaise that afflicts India’s coal sector, where private companies, according to the CAG, were given coal …
MARGAO: The Velim Civic and Consumer Forum on Friday lodged its strong objection to the acquisition of land admeasuring 30,000 sq mts for the Cutbona project. In her objection filed before the Land Acquisition Officer, Forum secretary Ramona Almeida said the VCCF joins the people of Velim in their demand …
Thousands of villagers from Navelim in Bicholim taluka of Goa on Monday observed a day-long bandh against Sesa Goa's metallurgical coke plant in the village, claiming that it is polluting their surroundings. Police officials said the bandh which started at 7 am has remained peaceful till now. Locals were seen …
A move that proposes to allow forest dwellers to commercially exploit minor forest produce, which includes bamboo, has worried activists and the forest administration, especially after what happened at Mendha-Lekha, the Gadchiroli village that had pioneered the nationwide forest rights movement. Last year, the village won a battle to have …
The National Alliance for People’s Movement (NAPM) along with several civil society groups under the umbrella of “Sangharsh” is sitting on a three-day protest at Jantar Mantar here against the new land acquisition Bill. Terming the Right to Fair Compensation, Resettlement and Rehabilitation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Bill, 2012, …
Gram sabha’s total control over forest produce makes ultras unhappy, reveal reports The government’s plan for economic empowerment of tribals to combat Left-wing extremism is yet to take off, despite the positive experience in Mendha Lekha in the Naxal affected Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. Notwithstanding legal guarantees, many village assemblies …
A gang on Wednesday allegedly threatened and abused a group of activists and farmers campaigning against chemical industries causing pollution in the Cauvery, in hamlets around Gonur village at Mettur. The activists have been campaigning since August 13 to urge the residents of Gonur, where the chemical factories are located, …
MARGAO: Cavelossim gram sabha on Sunday witnessed a debate on the question of waste management system with agitated members demanding to know whether the starred hotels have put such a system in place for disposal of their waste. The gram sabha adopted a resolution asking the panchayat to immediately write …
- New plan allows forest officials control over wildlife zones, allege gram sabhas Whose right is it to stop visitors? Siliguri, Aug. 1: Forest dwellers in north Bengal have objected to an eco-tourism proposal saying the plan does not allow their gram sabhas authority over the reserves. The dwellers alleged …
The State Government on Monday said it is optimistic about establishment of ArcelorMittal’s proposed 12 million tonne per annum (mtpa) steel plant in Keonjhar district in a peaceful manner. Informing this, Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty, however, expressed his reservations over the commitment of ArcelorMittal in investing in steel …
Tribal affairs ministry finalises changes in rules to correct contradictions and effectively implement the legislation. Sixteen months, a change of minister and massive reshuffle in the top bureaucracy of the tribal affairs ministry, Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) has finally managed to have its way on strengthening the Forest …
PONDA: Special Gram Sabhas were convened in Dharbandora taluka on Sunday to appoint Forest Rights Committees under the Scheduled Tribes and other traditional Forest Dwellers Act (recognition of Forest Rights Act 2006 and Rules 2007). Each committee comprises 15 members of which five members have to be from the ST …
After Nagri, it’s Dubalia, Rando, Patratu, Chutua and Sangrampur. A fresh controversy has broken out over acquisition of 256 acres in Kanke block, barely 15km from Ranchi, for constructing houses for the homeless poor. More than 300 villagers armed with traditional weapons laid siege to the Kanke block office on …
