Islampur, Jan. 30: The North Dinajpur district administration has started the proceedings to return more than 70 acres of land to its rightful tribal owners in Ramganj. This is the first time that the administration has taken up the initiative to restore illegally occupied tribal land, an official claimed. On …
This refers to the editorial “When business rules our kitchens” (June 16-30, 2011). Do we want to sensationalise the issue of poor food safety regulations and use big companies as a whipping boy or work on the solutions? How are we going to deal with the fundamental issue of feeding …
My article last fortnight about people’s fight against POSCO has brought me interesting responses. They call for clarifications and further discussion. The question is about the value of current livelihoods of the people of coastal Odisha. Is earning from betel nut farming being exaggerated to reinforce the romantic and misinformed …
The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday suspended the operation of the Government Order allocating 972.69 acres of land alienated in favour of NCC Ltd (formerly Nagarjuna Construction Company Ltd) for setting up of a thermal power plant at Sompeta in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. Mr Justice N. Ramamohana …
Joined by vendors and land sellers; court refuses to pass any order Tata Motors and other stakeholders in its Nano project on Wednesday moved the Calcutta High Court challenging a law revoking the lease agreement for land they were allotted in Singur. The stakeholders, including 54 Tata Motors vendors and …
The violence in Bhatta-Parsaul villages is a reminder of smaller clashes in western Uttar Pradesh since 2007 over land acquisition. In August 2010, Tappal block in Aligarh saw similar protests, leading to a clash between farmers and the police. The compensation given to these farmers against land acquired for the …
The Orissa government on Friday came down heavily on anti-Posco protesters by arresting 18 villagers, including a prominent anti-Posco leader, and carried on with its land acquisition drive for the South Korean steel major’s 12 million tonnes steel plant near Paradip. The government officials also seized a betel vine belonging …
RIGHT to property is a Constitutional right. The Supreme Court said this on April 18 dismissing acquisition of land by the Uttar Pradesh government near Greater Noida. The judgement has stirred a long-standing debate over property—whether the State has the supreme rights or the individual owner. The judgement was in …
THERVOY Kandigai village, 50 km northwest of Chennai in Thiruvallur district, is planning another protest against the Tamil Nadu government’s plan to set up an industrial estate on its 405 hectares (ha) of common forestland. People were encouraged by the recent Supreme Court ruling declaring the transfer of common land …
JAGPAL SINGH and Dev Singh of Jagir Rohar village in Patiala have little idea that their enmity has resulted in a landmark judgement by the Supreme Court that would bear implications for the rural population of the country. In its January 28 decision in the case concerning encroachment of common …
Tango with nature India has been using lakes, ponds and baolis (step wells) since ancient times ('What monsoon means', July 16-31, 2010). Delhi was once replete with water bodies. In the past 50 years, government agencies started disbanding natural ponds, lakes and baolis, declaring their water untested, and therefore, unfit …
OPPOSITION to the Tamil Nadu government's plan to construct a greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur near Chennai is growing. On August 12, around 3,000 people from 26 villages were lathicharged when they staged a demonstration against the project. The reason: the airport plan requires about 1,821 hectares and protestors say most …
THE Union government has proposed giving conclusive ownership titles to landholders across India through the Land Titling Bill 2010. The draft bill, open for public comment till August 31, envisages a transition from registration of sale deeds to registration of ownership, thus ensuring the registration is proof of ownership. At …
India has about 55.27 million hectares (m ha) of wasteland. These are not suitable for any purpose and are exposed to the vagaries of nature like weathering, gully erosion, etc. The Department of Land Resources of the Ministry of Rural Development has been implementing three area development programmes since 1995, …
US $1 TRILLION WORTH OF MINERALS Afghanistan is suddenly richThe Pentagon recently announced that Afghanistan is sitting on mineral wealth worth US $1 trillion—about 1,000 times the government’s annual revenue. The untapped mineral deposits, including iron, copper, cobalt, gold and lithium, a key raw material for laptop, cell phone and …
PARADIP: The difference between district administration and the activists of United Action Committee, a pro-Posco outfit, over disbursement of compensation has delayed the demolition of betel vines on government land in proposed Posco area. The district administration today held a meeting with UAC at Paradip to discuss Posco packages and …
“We are tribals and we love our land and our forests that are a part of our culture,” said Kalundia while adding they would not give up their land at any cost. Another bbjm activist, Dabur Kalundia, alleged the road is being constructed to give police easy access to the …
