State Govts can levy cess on land: SC
The Supreme Court has held that Karnataka State government have power to levy cess on land relating to coal, tea, brick, and minor minerals. The ruling was given by a five-judge constitution bench by a majority of four to one while disposing of special leave petitions and writ petitions by …
Govt to spend Rs 5,600 cr on Dharavi slum improvement
In a bid to wrest the political initiative from Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's Rs 500 crore package for overall development of Asia's largest slum-Dharavi, the Congress-NCP led Democratic Front Government too announced a Rs 5,600 crores special package for the development of the infrastructure in Dharavi.
On road to a risky venture
This "trial run" might prove to be too costly for the Delhi government. The Expenditure and Finance Committee of the Delhi government sanctioned Rs 2.5 crore to the transport department to purchase six high capacity buses, which, it says, will be initially run on the trial basis in the Capital.
Indo Bangla water talks begin
India and Bangladesh ended the first day of two-day water talks on a non-committal note with Bangladesh keen on a breakthrough in the vexed issue of sharing Teesta waters. As the secretary
Elections to be held for water users bodies
The Tamil Nadu government, for the first time in its history, has decided to hold elections for water users associations of various irrigation projects in the state under the TN Farmers Management of Irrigation Systems Act 2000.
Cabinet nod to Relocation and Rehabilitation Bill
The Project Affected Relocation Bill, setting the norms for rehabilitation of tribals and other people affected by large projects was cleared by the Union Cabinet. The Bill provides for land benefits and compensation to relocated people, based on a draft Bill prepared by the Rural Development Ministry in the 1980s. …
India: Use me
1,00,000 tonnes of toxic waste a year, India's a health disaster waiting to happen. Without a doubt, India is quickly becoming the world's favourite dumping ground for hazardous substances and wastes. Toxic residues in open landfills can affect the air and groundwater sources.
Development for all
The Union government has taken a welcome step towards rehabilitation of families displaced by development projects. The cabinet has approved the National Policy on Resettlement and Rehabilitation for Project-affected Families, 2003. The policy is applicable to projects that displace 500 or more families in the plains and 250 families or …
Decimation of species
From being a favourite theory touted by ecologists, global warming has now emerged as a clear and present danger facing earth and its inhabitants. A scientific study undertaken across parts of Europe, Africa and Australia has shown that at the present rate of greenhouse emissions, by 2050 almost 1.25 million …
Slum dwellers feel better as Atal announces grant
Mumbaikars and people elsewhere in Maharashtra had a reason to 'feel better' on Friday, as Prime Minister A B Vajpayee announced a grant of Rs 500 crore for the development of Asia's largest slum Dharavi in north-central Mumbai, and assured the Democratic Front (DF) Government of 'adequate' financial assistance for …
Ammonia in Yamuna: DJB cries, Haryana wont let up
After ammonia levels in the Yamuna water at Delhi Jal Board's Nangloi and Haiderpur plants mounted to an all-time high of 3 mg per litre, the DJB wrote to both the Central and Haryana pollution control boards. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had last year identified four industries in …
Rs 40, 000-cr road project launched
Buoyed by the encouraging results of the Rs 58,000-crore National Highway Development Project, the Centre has launched another amibitious Rs 40,000-crore project under the name of Pradhan Mantri Bharat Joda Pariyojana or 'PM-BJP'.
PM sanctions Rs 500 crore for Dharavi
In an initiative to clean up and improve the Asia's biggest slum settlement Dharavi, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced Rs 500 crore financial assistance. Speaking after unveiling a statue of the Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji near the international airport, he said Dharavi had graduated from being a slum area …
NCR Plan 2021: Shake hands with pvt sector
The National Capital Region Planning Board will present its ambitious Regional Plan 2021 to the Urban Development Ministry for approval tomorrow. In order to decongest Delhi, the Board has proposed to include the entire Alwar district of Rajasthan within NCR. Redrawing of the NCR territory has been proposed for the …
CM to take on Centre to `save` slums
The Delhi government is gearing up for yet another show down with the latter's plan to go ahead with the relocation of slums from Yamuna Pushta, before March. The Delhi chief minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, said that her government will oppose any move to relocate the slums before March.
Three phase action plan to boost tourism sector mooted
A three phased plan of action to boost the tourism sector which received a battering from the tsunami diaster is being mooted. A cabinet paper will be presented this week by Industries, Investment and Tourism Promotion Minister Anura Bandaranaike for a short, medium and long term plan to revive the …
Kumbalangi project to get UNDP aid
Kerala Tourism's Kumbalangi Model Tourism Village project will get aid from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UNDP will also provide financial aid for developing Aranmula in Pathanamthitta districts as a rural tourism center.
Rs 318 crore for road projects in Rajasthan
The Centre has sanctioned Rs. 318 crore for various road projects in Rajasthan. Of this, Rs. 148 crore will be given under the Central Road Fund (CRF), Rs. 165 crore under the National Highway Projects and Rs. 5 crore under the inter-state roads. Besides this, a Rs. 25 crore grant …
Chandivli project got Rs. 200 cr TDR from SRA
The Chandivli slum rehabilitation project, touted as the largest scheme of its kind in India, has been named as one of the four projects that received excess transfer of development rights (TDR) from the Slum Rehabilitation Authority(SRA).Last week, chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who is the chairperson of SRA, told TNN …
Satellite township to be developed near Srinagar
The Jammu and Kashmir Government will set up a world-class satellite township in Srinagar which will be a unique blend of Kashmiri heritage and modernity on the lines of Singapore and NRI city, Greater Noida. To be named "Shehjaar', (pleasant shade of Chinar), the township will be spread over 6,000 …
