In the wake of allegations by residents of Khanak village and the issue raised by Congress MLA Karan Singh Dalal in the recent Assembly session regarding bungling in mining in Khanak zone in Bhiwani district, the state government has relieved the Head of Department (HoD), Mining, Panchkula, of his charge. Read more
Courtesy: The Tribune
Mining, considered one of the major economic sources of India, has long been associated with numerous controversies. And still it is a great initiative of economic activity which has significant contributions to the Indian economy. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution of the Mining sector varies from 2.2% to 2.5% but going by the GDP of the total industrial sector, it contributes around 10% to 11%. Even mining in the small scale contributes 6% to the entire cost of mineral production. It’s said that Indian mining provides job opportunities to about 7 lakhs individuals. Read more
Courtesy: E-Pao
In 1900, the British had the foresight to realise that the survival of the hilly areas could be at risk without ecological safeguards. So, they introduced a land preservation act. The undivided Punjab state government continued the protection for the hills. However, after the formation of Haryana, the Aravalis have come under major threat with repeated attempts to dilute the legal cover, notwithstanding a few efforts in the 1970s and 1990s to notify some areas under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) Read more
Courtesy: Times of India
Life has never been easy for the residents of Gurjanga village in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district. The only motorable road to the village ends five kilometres from it. After that, a muddy trail along a thick forest of kendu, mahua and karanja to access the village. So last year, when forest officials offered to build the road, residents of the 70-household village were overwhelmed. “In return, they wanted us to give up our village forest so that the department can set up a teak plantation,” recounts Arun Shamal. “It was a difficult decision because most of us depend on forest produce for a living. Our livestock also graze here,” says Kirtan Pradhan, another resident. Last year, he earned Rs 15,000 selling mahua flowers and kendu leaf plates. The officials, claim the residents, particularly persuaded Shamal and Pradhan whose 0.3 ha of private land was surrounded by the forest. “They felled the entire forest and trees on our plots soon after receiving our consent and have planted 6,000 teak and 400 gambhiri saplings,” says Shamal, adding they have not received any written document or compensation for forgoing their land. Read more
Courtesy: Down to Earth
PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa has directed mining-affected panchayats facing water shortage to submit preliminary reports on the drinking water situation in their villages by September 26 to the District Mineral Foundation.
Last week, it directed concerned panchayat secretaries to personally submit relevant details to the secretary of the respective District Mineral Foundation. Read more
Courtesy: The Times of India
