Mining – India 1
1. India to Expedite Posco’s Iron Ore Mining License (Update1) 1
2. Officials in hurry to pass mining project? 2
3. India May iron ore exports up 18 pct y/y-industry 3
4. Fight over body parts 3
5. Mining sector recorded growth of 2.58 per cent in 2008-09 4
6. Coal projects awaiting environmental clearance 5
Mining – International 6
7. Investigation into Zimbabwe's conflict diamonds launched 6
8. Greens mining ban bill voted down 7
9. Zimbabwe army 'to go from mines' 8
10. Zimbabwe army 'to go from mines' 8
11. NV gold mine fined $500,000 for fatality 9
12. Indonesia mining sector faces election risks 10
Other News 11
13. Meet of Naxal-hit states’ CMs in Aug. 11
14. UPA failed to use Rs 72,500 crore for Dalits: Study 12
15. Maytas loses Metro project in Hyderabad 14
16. PM blames developed world for slowdown, climate change 15
17. Pune hit by water scarcity 16
18. UN human rights chief for investigation into China violence 17
Mining – India
India to Expedite Posco’s Iron Ore Mining License (Update1)
By Debarati Roy
July 8 (Bloomberg) -- India will speed up the process of granting Posco an iron-ore mining license, seeking to end a four-year wait by the steelmaker to secure resources for its planned $12 billion venture in the country.
“We are looking into the matter and will get this done as soon as possible,” Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh said today in New Delhi, while attending an industry conference. “We are working with the state government to expedite the matter.”
Land disputes and the delay in getting a mining license prevented South Korea-based Posco from proceeding with one of India’s biggest foreign investment. Asia’s fifth-biggest steelmaker has yet to start building the 12 million metric ton plant in the eastern state of Orissa. Work on the project, announced in June 2005, was scheduled to start in April 2007.
“We are hoping something good will happen,” Posco India spokesman Saroj Mahapatra said today by telephone.
The states of Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh account for 70 percent of India’s coal reserves and 55 percent of its iron ore, according to McKinsey & Co.
Posco faced opposition in Orissa as locals and political parties want the plant to be moved to non-arable areas from farmlands.
Aid Construction
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July last year told South Korean President Lee Myung Bak at a summit in Japan he would help Posco start construction work on the plant in August, according to a statement posted on the Web site of South Korea’s presidential office.
Initially, Posco will build a 4 million metric ton plant and set up a 400-megawatt power plant. The company has sought 600 million tons of iron ore for the steel mill.
Posco joins ArcelorMittal in seeking to expand in Asia, where steel demand is growing faster than in Europe and the U.S.
In October 2005, ArcelorMittal said it would set up a factory with a final capacity of 12 million tons in Jharkhand and announced another plant of the same size in neighboring Orissa the following year.
Meanwhile, demand for steel declined the most since World War II, the World Steel Association said in April, and output is set to tumble 15 percent this year.
Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal said in April it would delay a $20 billion plan to build two factories in India. The world’s biggest steelmaker has slashed production by as much as 50 percent and shed jobs.
To contact the reporter on this story: Debarati Roy in Mumbai atdroy5@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: July 8, 2009 04:28 EDT
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=a3mobbuRD_RQ
Officials in hurry to pass mining project?
Ashwin Aghor / DNA
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 2:47 IST
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Mumbai: Despite clear indications from the principal chief conservator of forests (WL) about the adverse effects of mining project in Lohara forest, the state forest minister seems to be determined to overlook the letter and continue with the mining proposal of Adani Power Limited. It is learnt that the efforts are on to get it approved by the state forest ministry within next ten days.
The high level of opposition from environmentalists to the project was evident during the first and probably the last meeting of 10-member study group formed to recommend measures to reduce effects of mining on the flora and fauna around Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), held at Chandrapur on July 30. The meeting was convened at the office of conservator of forest, North Chandrapur forest circle.
Amidst strong protests, two of the 10-member study group resigned while another one walked out of the meeting questioning the basic motive behind constituting the committee. "The methodology adopted by the study group is eyewash, a mere formality to hush the voice of protesting conservationists. The basic question, which I pressed through hunger strike during last assembly winter session, of not allowing the project in Lohara near Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) was not discussed at all," said Bandu Dhotre, president of Eco-Pro, a Chandrapur based NGO.
During the meeting, APL officials tried their level to convince how the mine and flora and fauna in Lohara jungles can co-exist, which is a streak contrast to his demand, Dhotre pointed out. "While the APL officers in the group are trying hard to convince their point, the forest officials, who should be expressing concern regarding the possible eco-disturbance that might occur due to the project, appeared to be mere spectators," Dhotre said.
He resigned from the study group and walked out of the meeting as a mark of protest. Eco-Pro has filed a PIL which is pending with Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court and hence taking up proceedings regarding government level clearance to the mine without intimating the judicial bench will be held as contempt of court, Dhotre claimed.
Suresh Chopne of Green Planet Society, who is member of the study group, submitted a letter saying how the mine would be destructive for the environmental balance and the flora and fauna in Lohara forest and walked out of the meeting. "Hence forth, I will not participate in the proceedings of the study group," he said.
When contacted, Shailendra Bahadur, who is convener of the study group, claimed that proceedings of the meeting were running smoothly but admitted to the fact that a member had resignation. The forest department officials apparently appear to be in a great hurry to rush Adani coal mine project in Lohara jungle
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_officials-in-hurry-to-pass-mining-project_1272064
India May iron ore exports up 18 pct y/y-industry
Wed Jul 8, 2009 3:49am EDT
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MUMBAI, July 8 (Reuters) - India's iron ore exports in May rose 18 percent from a year earlier to 10.607 million tonnes, data from the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries showed on Wednesday.
Exports in April had fallen 20.6 percent on year to 9.157 million tonnes, it showed. India exports about half of its annual 200 million tonnes iron ore production, mostly to China that has the world's biggest steel industry.
Exports in the past fiscal year ended March were 105.764 million tonnes, up 1.4 percent from a year earlier. (Reporting by Ruchira Singh)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSBOM44347220090708
Fight over body parts
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Bhopal, July 7: The blasts didn't just kill, they ripped apart identities.
Tragedy struck on Sunday night in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, when flames from a boiler that apparently burst sparked an inferno in two explosives manufacturing factories, killing dozens of workers in the country’s energy and mining capital.
Till afternoon today, most of the bodies had not been identified and wailing wives and mothers fought over body parts at the post-mortem centre in Waidhan, the district headquarters of Singrauli over 750km from Bhopal.
Anita, a mother of two, clung to a disfigured body saying it was of her husband Vijay Kumar Panika. A couple from the neighbouring Sidhi district also staked claim to the body, saying it was of their son Pankaj Soni.
While Anita and the Sonis argued, another family insisted that the body was of their son Suresh who was driving a tractor when the explosion ripped through the two factories.
Distraught relatives clutched a leg or a hand, pointing to “old wounds” to back their claim. “It was a terrible and unfortunate sight,” said a doctor at Waidhan.
The exact cause of the explosions at Indian Detonators, Rajasthan Chemical Explosives Ltd and Ideal Company in Baliyari, Waidhan, is still not clear. But informed sources said a boiler at Rajasthan Chemical burst and the blaze engulfed Indian Detonators and Ideal Company.
Most of those who died were non-technical staff and may have ignored safety norms, the sources added.
Eyewitnesses said the blasts were so severe that both factories were completely destroyed. According to district collector P. Narhari, 16 bodies had been recovered so far and 25 people with serious injuries had been hospitalised.
Collector Narhari said rescue operations were on but chances of finding more survivors had receded, even as the area remained without power for the past 48 hours. Chief minister Shivraj Chauhan has ordered a magisterial probe.
Singrauli is considered the country’s energy and mining capital as it houses units of Northern Coalfields Limited, power major NTPC, Hindalco and Essar Power Ltd.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090708/jsp/nation/story_11209993.jsp
Mining sector recorded growth of 2.58 per cent in 2008-09
Published: July 8,2009
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New Delhi, July 7 The government today said that the mining sector has recorded a growth rate of 2.58 per cent in the last fiscal.
"As per available information the growth rate in Mining Sector in 2008-09 was 2.58 per cent," Mines Minister B K Handique said in reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
The fuel minerals recorded a growth rate of 2.85 per cent, he said.
About steps to promote production of rare minerals, including gold, he said," Thirty-five investigations were carried out by the GeologicalSurvey of India in North Eastern region during annual programme of 2007-08."
He said the new mineral policy envisages streamlining and simplifying the procedures in grant of mineral concessions in order to attract more investments into the mining sector.
" During 2007 and 2008, prior approval of the Central Government has been accorded in 240 proposals received from various state governments for grant of mining leases,"he added.
http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/617862/Business/4/20/4
Coal projects awaiting environmental clearance
Press Trust of India / New Delhi July 08, 2009, 13:36 IST
Twenty-nine coal projects meant for power generation in the country are awaiting environmental clearance, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
"Coal India has requested the Environment ministry to expedite the process of environment clearance," Jairam Ramesh, who holds the charge of the ministry, said in a written reply.
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He said, the number of coal projects pending environment clearance is 29, of which four projects have been recommended for environmental clearance and in respect of the remaining 25 projects, clarification sought by the Expert Appraisal Committee (thermal and coal mining) are awaited.
The minister further stated that the project proponents have been advised to prepare environmental impact assessment report along with environmental management plans to address the green issues so that the proposals can be expeditiously granted environmental clearance.
Regarding infrastructural projects, Ramesh while replying to another query, said that as on date a total of 17 infrastructural projects from various states await environmental clearance.
"Generally decisions on the projects are taken within 105 days of the receipt of complete information, as provided for the Environment Impact Assessment notification, 2006," the minister added.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/coal-projects-awaiting-environmental-clearance/67043/on
Mining – International
Investigation into Zimbabwe's conflict diamonds launched
Posted by Mehret Tesfaye | July 2nd, 2009 at 6:35 pm |
HARARE - The Kimberly Process, an international diamond certification body set up to curb trade in conflict diamonds, has launched an investigation into reports that President Robert Mugabe's previous administration committed atrocities during a clampdown on illegal miners last year.
The review mission led by Liberian deputy minister of planning and development, Mr Kpandel Fayia on Wednesday visited the Chiadzwa diamond fields in the eastern parts if the country where human rights groups claim more than 50 panners were shot dead by soldiers.
The government sealed off the area after dealers from all over the world descended on the area in search of the precious stones.
Human rights groups estimate that 5,000 people were arrested by soldiers and most of them were severely tortured.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has called for an investigation into the reports of human rights violations, while the United States based Human Rights Watch is calling for a ban on Zimbabwean diamonds.
"There were apprehensions that we were not going to be allowed to enter the mine or to talk with people, Mr Fayia told the state owned Herald newspaper after the tour.
We will do our report and it will reflect the ingredients we got here.
The paper said the team interviewed villagers in the area and searched for the alleged mass graves before touring the Zimbabwe Mining Development Cooperation, which is mining diamonds in the area on behalf of government.
The mission will also visit other privately owned diamond mines in Zimbabwe to ascertain if their production processes were not open to abuse.
Human Rights Watch released a damning report titled, "Diamonds in the Rough: Human Rights Abuses in the Marange Diamond Fields of Zimbabwe, which details how Zanu PF militias seized control of the diamond fields last year, killing miners.
The group said military controlled syndicates had taken over the area using forced labour and smuggling diamonds out of the country using the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to fund Zanu PF activities.
Meanwhile, the MDC has distanced itself from one of its ministers who tried to deny that there were human rights violations at the diamond fields.
Mines and Mining Development minister, Mr Murisi Zwizai who is a member of the MDC told a meeting of the Kimberly Process in Namibia that the allegations were unfounded.
Contrary to allegations in the media, nobody was killed by security forced during an operation at Marange, where about 30 000 people descended onto the alluvial mining field, he told the conference.
These people comprised of cunning, die hard illegal diamond diggers. This compelled government to conduct a special operation to flush out the illegal diamond miners and to bring order and sanity to the area.
But the MDC in statement said Mr Zwizai's remarks were premature as there was a need to carry out a proper investigation.
We view the remarks as premature and inaccurate in the absence of an investigation into the murky dealings in the Chiadzwa diamond fields where a lot of things happened out of the public eye, the party said.
Hon Zwizwai's claims are therefore fact hostile and evidence free.
Economists say if properly mined the diamonds can adequately finance Zimbabwe's economic reconstruction.
The country, which is emerging from a decade of political and economic turmoil, has sent a begging bowl to the international community for US$8 billion in the next three years to fund the reconstruction.
- By KITSEPILE NYATHI | Daily Nation
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/articles/11221
Greens mining ban bill voted down
Posted Thu Jun 4, 2009 8:12pm AEST
Updated Thu Jun 4, 2009 8:34pm AEST
About 150 farmers travelled down from the state's north coast to hear the bill debate. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
• Map: Sydney 2000
• Related Story: Mining ban bill debated
A private member's bill designed to ban coal mining on prime agricultural land has been defeated by one vote in the New South Wales Upper House.
Protesters had to be removed from State Parliament after fiery debate over the bill, which was introduced by Greens leader, Lee Rhiannon.
About 150 farmers travelled down from the state's north coast to hear the proceedings.
Earlier they held a rally outside Parliament to coincide with today's vote on the legislation.
Under the Mining Amendment Bill, any new mining would be banned in areas defined as prime agricultural land, and within a kilometre of rivers and water catchments used by those farms.
The bill was supported by the Coalition, but it became clear it would not be have the numbers to pass once Fred Nile indicated he would vote against it.
"I can not support this bill. It's not because of the content, it is because if the bill is to allow and will give a great ability for the Green party to blow their trumpets," he said.
With the support of Rev Nile and two Shooters Party MPs, the State Government ensured the bill was defeated by one vote.
Ms Rhiannon vowed the "fight is certainly not over and the campaign would continue".
If the bill had passed it would then have needed to pass the Lower House - where it almost certainly would have been defeated.
Earlier, the Primary Industries Minister attacked the Greens over the bill.
Ian Macdonald told Parliament that mining is essential for the state's economy.
"It provides around $1.3 billion in royalties to this state and as well as that it employs a total of 75,000 direct and indirect jobs," he said.
"We have to be very cautious about how we deal with this issue and the Greens approach is to attack every mining proposal in this state."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/04/2589821.htm
Zimbabwe army 'to go from mines'
Until the military moved in illegal diggers were seeking their fortune
Zimbabwe's government has agreed to withdraw soldiers from diamond mining fields amid criticism over human rights abuses, state-run media reports.
It quoted the deputy mines minister in the unity government as saying soldiers would be withdrawn "in phases".
Troops deployed to the Marange diamond fields last year after disputed polls.
The army says it was to prevent illegal mining, but rights groups accuse them of involvement in forced labour and an alleged massacre of diamond diggers.
A team from the Kimberley Process - the organisation which aims to stop the use of diamonds to fund conflict - is currently in Zimbabwe investigating the allegations of abuse.
We agreed to remove soldiers but it will be done in phases while proper security settings would be put in place,
Murisi Zwizwai
Deputy Mines Minister
Eerie silence at Zimbabwe mine
It urged the unity government formed in February to demilitarise the diamond fields in the east of the country.
"We agreed to remove soldiers but it will be done in phases while proper security settings would be put in place," Deputy Mines Minister Murisi Zwizwai is quoted by Zimbabwe's Sunday Mail newspaper as saying.
In a report last month, US-based group Human Right Watch said the takeover of the mines last October was a systematic attempt to enable key army units, whose support President Mugabe needed following last June's disputed elections, to have access to riches.
When the army moved in some 200 people were killed in three weeks, witnesses allege.
If the diamond industry was legally regulated, Human Rights Watch estimates it could amount to $200m (£122m) a month for the poverty-stricken country, which is struggling to raise aid from Western donors.
Zimbabwe army 'to go from mines'
Until the military moved in illegal diggers were seeking their fortune
Zimbabwe's government has agreed to withdraw soldiers from diamond mining fields amid criticism over human rights abuses, state-run media reports.
It quoted the deputy mines minister in the unity government as saying soldiers would be withdrawn "in phases".
Troops deployed to the Marange diamond fields last year after disputed polls.
The army says it was to prevent illegal mining, but rights groups accuse them of involvement in forced labour and an alleged massacre of diamond diggers.
A team from the Kimberley Process - the organisation which aims to stop the use of diamonds to fund conflict - is currently in Zimbabwe investigating the allegations of abuse.
We agreed to remove soldiers but it will be done in phases while proper security settings would be put in place,
Murisi Zwizwai
Deputy Mines Minister
Eerie silence at Zimbabwe mine
It urged the unity government formed in February to demilitarise the diamond fields in the east of the country.
"We agreed to remove soldiers but it will be done in phases while proper security settings would be put in place," Deputy Mines Minister Murisi Zwizwai is quoted by Zimbabwe's Sunday Mail newspaper as saying.
In a report last month, US-based group Human Right Watch said the takeover of the mines last October was a systematic attempt to enable key army units, whose support President Mugabe needed following last June's disputed elections, to have access to riches.
When the army moved in some 200 people were killed in three weeks, witnesses allege.
If the diamond industry was legally regulated, Human Rights Watch estimates it could amount to $200m (£122m) a month for the poverty-stricken country, which is struggling to raise aid from Western donors.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8135157.stm
NV gold mine fined $500,000 for fatality
By SCOTT SONNER – 8 hours ago
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Federal regulators have fined Newmont Mining Corp. more than $500,000 for safety violations they say contributed to the death of a worker at an underground gold mine in Nevada.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration also announced Tuesday that four supervisors for the Denver-based mining company have agreed to pay a combined $60,000 in individual penalties for their role in the accident at the Midas Mine north of Elko in June 2007.
The agency said managers "showed a disregard for the miners' welfare" and acted with "more than ordinary negligence" before the victim fell through a sinkhole while operating a large loader about 200 feet below the entrance of the mine.
Michael A. Davis, MSHA's deputy assistant secretary for operations, said several Newmont employees were aware of safety deficiencies at the time but continued to require miners to work and travel in hazardous areas.
Richard Manning, an administrative law judge for the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, approved the penalties, Davis said in a statement.
The violations included failure to provide adequate controls to guard against cave-ins and failure to provide adequate barricades and signs to warn miners about the hidden hazards of sinkholes, he said.
In addition, Newmont was cited for impeding MSHA's investigation of the accident by failing to provide maps and other documents, as well as failing to report the entrapment within the required 15 minutes.
The first-line supervisor, two general foremen and the engineer in charge agreed to pay the $60,000 for their roles in the "flagrant ground control violation," the agency said. Their names were not immediately released.
The 30-year-old victim, Thomas Daniel Shaw of Winnemucca, and the loader he was operating fell through the floor of one level of the mine on June 19, 2007. He had been working to use a mixture of concrete to backfill a space that had been left open after ore was removed during the underground mining process, MSHA said.
Rescue crews worked around the clock for 13 days and removed 5,000 tons of debris before his body was recovered July 2 about 30 feet below the site where he had been working. No one else was injured.
Newmont spokeswoman Mary Korpi said the company has implemented a number of new safety measures at the mine since the accident, including new requirements for operations around sinkholes and additional checks and balances in engineering and design.
"We continue to mourn Dan Shaw's loss and implement the lessons of this tragic accident," Korpi said.
"Although we do not agree with all the accusations and findings, we felt it was in everyone's best interest to finalize the agreement and bring closure to this matter," she said.
MSHA's investigative report on the accident said that prior to the fatality, Newmont managers failed to follow repeated recommendations by their own consultants and experts for installing and maintaining an effective system to alleviate sinkholes — which the agency calls "subsidence issues" — in the mine.
"Management engaged in aggravated conduct constituting more than ordinary negligence in that it was aware of previous subsidence ... and failed to correct mining practices and hazardous conditions," the report said.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hypFVwYjT260-8uzBAqi54rDh2uwD999T0T00
Indonesia mining sector faces election risks
Tue Jul 7, 2009 5:25am EDT
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(For more stories on the election click on [ID:nIDELECT])
By Fitri Wulandari
JAKARTA, July 7 (Reuters) - Indonesia has struggled to lure foreign investment to its mining sector in recent years, and the nationalist line on resource exploitation taken by politicians ahead of Wednesday's presidential election has hardly helped.
The mining industry is also awaiting details of regulations in a new mining law passed last year which was aimed at squeezing more from the country's rich mineral resources.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is widely expected to be returned to power, is seen as more open to foreign investment than his challengers, Megawati Sukarnoputri and Jusuf Kalla.
Here are some questions and answers on mining and the election.
IS INDONESIA GROWING MORE NATIONALISTIC OVER ITS RESOURCES?
Megawati has said she would take a tougher stance in contract negotiations with foreign resource firms if elected, singling out the Grasberg copper mine in Papua run by a unit of Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX.N) for criticism.
Kalla has also said that "unfair" contracts with foreign resource companies should be re-negotiated.
The Yudhoyono administration, however, has previously said it would respect contracts.
Analysts say a more nationalistic stance on resources is no surprise during an election period, but it could mean Indonesia loses out on investment later on, particularly given the current scarcity of global capital.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OVER THE NEW MINING LAW?
The government is currently drafting regulations on the law for presidential approval and has said it plans to issue them by October before a new government takes office.
Issuing the regulations is seen as crucial to give certainty to investors. In the case of an oil and gas law passed in 2001, it took three years to issue the implementing regulations.
The new mining law means that investors will be put on shorter-term mining permits rather than longer-term contracts of work, while they will also have to process minerals in Indonesia and to set aside some of their coal for the domestic market.
Foreign investors will also have to divest to local players some of their shares in a mining project after a period.
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSJAK48046320090707
Other News
The Asian age
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Meet of Naxal-hit states’ CMs in Aug.
AMIT AGNIHOTRI
NEW DELHI
July 7: Union home minister P. Chidambaram will convene a meeting of the chief minister’s of Naxal-affected states next month to devise a strategy to counter the growing menace.
"After the Budget Session, I will convene a meeting of the chief ministers of the Naxal-affected states to discuss strategies to counter the problem," Union home minister P. Chidambaram told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour. The home minister further said the Maoists, who have a more structured set up and even have a Central military commission, are directing the Naxals.
"There are two ways to deal with the problem, police action and introducing development in the affected area. The need is to decide on the order of the two options. It is our priority to clear and hold the areas under Naxal influence," he said. Terming the Naxals as anti-development, the home minister said the government has focused on 34 districts across eight states for action. To push the development strategy, the Planning Commission has formed eight groups headed by experts and the Cabinet secretary has approved 69 schemes for these districts.
"We have already told the Union finance minister that we will need more funds in the revised estimates than Rs 1,250 crores he allocated in the Budget 2009-10 for police modernisation," said the home minister.
Stating there is no evidence of foreign funding to the Naxal or Maoist groups, the home minister said "most of their money is collected locally from the tribals, who support them, and through bank robberies."
"Some of the arms with the Naxals has been smuggled into India but mostly they depend on loot from the state armouries," he said. Observing that there were no more ideologues in the Maoist camps, the home minister said evidence gathered from their hideouts shows many of them now target the state and have plans of "an armed struggle to capture power."
Talking about evolving a coordinated approach to deal with the Naxal menace, the home minister said the state governments are not fully prepared to meet the challenge. "The strategies being formed by these states are being integrated with the Centre’s plans. The Naxal problem has aggravated during the past few months and resources from other wings of the government are being arranged," the home minister added.
http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/india/meet-of-naxal-hit-states%E2%80%99-cms-in-aug.aspx
UPA failed to use Rs 72,500 crore for Dalits: Study
5 Jul 2009, 1310 hrs IST, IANS
NEW DELHI: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) may wax eloquent
about empowering the downtrodden, but in the last five years it has
denied the
Scheduled Castes (SCs) a whopping Rs.72,500 crore ($15.16 billion)
that should have been earmarked for them under a special scheme.
This has been underlined by voluntary organisation National Campaign
on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) after a study of India's budget
documents.
Called the special component plan (SCP), the scheme was a strategy
evolved way back in April 1975, envisaging that every central ministry
must allocate funds from its annual plan for Dalits according to their
population.
SCs today form 16.2 percent of India's 1.1 billion population.
Therefore, between 2005 and 2009, the Congress-led government should
have set aside Rs.129,000 crore for Dalits. But as much as Rs.72,500
crore was not earmarked, the NCDHR has pointed out.
"The figures of allocation are a mute witness to the history of denial
of exclusion. It is not only for the last five years; this trend is
observed for the last 28 years since the inception of the special
component plan in 1979-80," states the NCDHR.
It points to the allocations in the interim budget of the UPA
government in February.
"Out of 75 ministries and their departments, only 16 have allocated
funds under the SCP. Out of these, nine ministries have allocated
token amounts below five percent. Labour and employment, science &
technology, bio-technology, panchayati raj and textiles are some of
the examples," says the study.
But the NCDHR concedes that human resource development, social justice
and empowerment, rural development, women and child development and
health ministries did make allocations according to the Dalit
population.
The SCP came into being in 1979-80 and only Rs.433 crore had been
spent on SCs and Scheduled Tribes (STs) together in the 30 years
before that.
According to the Planning Commission guidelines, these funds cannot be
diverted for any other purpose.
The ruling Congress and its UPA allies that spoke of the common man in
the run up to elections allocated Rs.15,280 crore for SCs in its
interim budget in February while it should have set aside Rs.34,413
crore for this fiscal, says NCDHR.
"This is even lower than last year's allocation," points out the study.
"While the total increase in the plan outlay is 15.74 percent, it is
unacceptable that at this critical time of financial crisis, the
amount for the socially and economically vulnerable sections is
drastically reduced. The amount denied is 55 percent this year!"
As envisaged by the Planning Commission of India, the major objectives
of the SCP are:
* Substantial reduction in poverty;
* Creation of productive assets in favour of SCs to sustain the growth
likely to accrue through development efforts;
* Human resource development of the SCs by providing adequate
educational and health service; and
* Provision of physical and financial security against all types of
exploitation and oppression.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/UPA-failed-to-use-Rs-72500-crore-for-Dalits-Study-/articleshow/4740334.cms
Maytas loses Metro project in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: The government of Andhra Pradesh has cancelled the award of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project to a Maytas Infra Ltd-led consortium after it failed to raise adequate finances for the project.
The cancellation is a set-back for the infrastructure company which recently struck a deal with its lenders to restructure debt and which has been perceived unfavourably because it is promoted by the Raju family, whose head B. Ramalinga Raju confessed in early January to having cooked the books of Satyam Computer Services Ltd to the tune of at least Rs7,136 crore.
Setback: A Maytas Infra construction site in Bangalore. The scrapping of the Rs12,312 crore Hyderabad Metro project deal comes a day after Maytas benefited from a move by the Karnataka government to reverse an earlier decision to scrap the award of a project to develop two airports in the state to the firm. Hemant Mishra / Mint
It is also a setback for the city which will now wait longer for a much-needed Metro.
Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Andhra Pradesh’s municipal administration and urban development minister, told reporters on Tuesday that while the Maytas Infra-led consortium had failed to achieve financial closure for the project even three months after the deadline, other consortia that had initially expressed interest in the project had not shown any willingness to take over.
The government-appointed chairman of Maytas Infra, K. Ramalingam, the former chairman of Airports Authority of India Ltd, refused comment on the state’s decision.
“We heard it (news of the deal being cancelled) through the media, have not received any official communication from the government so far,” the company’s spokesperson Tarun Udwala said.
Interestingly, the scrapping of the Metro deal comes a day after Maytas benefited from a decision of the Karnataka government to reverse an earlier decision to scrap the award of a project to develop two airports in the state to the firm.
The Rs12,312 crore project to build the Metro, billed as India’s first two-track elevated transit system, is one of the largest projects of its kind in the world and involves developing a 71.16km network at one go. It was to be completed five-and-a-half years from the date of award of the project.
The Maytas-led consortium had earlier also missed a deadline to provide a bank guarantee of Rs240 crore to the government by 17 March, and had sought an extension of six months from the original deadline of 17 March. It paid around Rs71 crore to the government in tranches after it was awarded the project on 8 August.
Other members of the consortium, in which Maytas owns 26%, are Hyderabad-based ferro alloys and power producer Nava Bharat Ventures Ltd (16%), infrastructure lending firm Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS; 5%) and Thailand’s civil infrastructure firm Italian-Thai Development Public Co. Ltd (Ital Thai; 5%). The state government had planned to pick up 11% stake in the project and the remaining 37% was to be offered to financial partners.
The Maytas-led consortium had offered to pay around Rs30,311 crore to the government as revenue from the project over 35 years—one reason why it was awarded the project. Another factor that worked in its favour was its refusal to accept the financial assistance offered by the Union government to the tune of around Rs1,639 crore as viability gap funding.
The other four consortia initially shortlisted for the project were led by Essar Constructions Ltd (other members include SREI, Singapore MRT, SEC and STE of Singapore); a Nagarjuna Construction Co. Ltd-led one (Magna Allmore of Malyasia, Siemens of Germany and Emirates Trading Agency of Dubai); Reliance Energy and Canada’s Bombardier; and one led by the GVK group (Gammon, Alstom of France and IDFC Ltd).
The GVK-led consortium, however, had pulled out before the financial bidding stage citing its belief that the project was unviable.
Reddy said the government would not return the Rs71 crore paid by Maytas.
“A high-level review meeting under the chairmanship of the chief minister will meet on 13 July to decide on the future course of action, which includes calling for fresh global bids for the Metro rail project,” he added.
In a statement issued late Tuesday evening, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said the government’s priority would remain seeing the project implemented at the earliest because it would ease the traffic problems in Hyderabad and its environs.
Maytas Infra is promoted and headed by B. Teja Raju, the elder son of B. Ramalinga Raju.
Following the events at Satyam, which has since been sold to Tech Mahindra Ltd and rebranded Mahindra Satyam, Maytas ran into trouble.
First, the Karnataka government cancelled a Rs200 crore contract it had awarded the company to develop airports at Shimoga and Gulbarga. This was the decision that was rescinded on Monday after the Union government stood guarantee for these projects.
Then, Vedanta Resources Plc had cancelled a contract awarded to Maytas Infra citing slow progress. The contract was for building a township for staff at Vedanta group’s mining operations in Jharsuguda, Orissa, and was valued at Rs232.69 crore. And state-owned Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd also decided to revoke several rural electrification contracts it had awarded Maytas. The combined value of these contracts was 395 crore.
In early March, following a complaint by lenders to the infrastructure firm, the Company Law Board appointed its nominees on the board of Maytas Infra.
The company has since successfully negotiated with the lenders and obtained a debt restructuring package.
http://www.livemint.com/2009/07/08005913/Maytas-loses-Metro-project-in.html
PM blames developed world for slowdown, climate change
Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, July 07, 2009
First Published: 11:59 IST(7/7/2009)
Last Updated: 13:42 IST(7/7/2009)
Heading for the G8-G5 summit in the Italian earthquake-hit town of L'Aquila Wednesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blamed the developed economies for the present global financial and economic slowdown and adverse consequences of climate change being faced by the world.
"The global financial and economic slowdown that we are witnessing is particularly detrimental for the development objectives of developing countries such as India. This has not been a crisis of our making, but we have had to bear its consequences. The slowdown in the advanced economies has affected our exports, strengthened protectionists sentiments and impacted credit and capital flows," the prime minister said Wednesday in a departure statement here.
He will arrive at the venue of the summit Wednesday evening via Rome. L'Aquila is about 100 km northeast of Rome.
"Climate change will be an important subject of discussion. It is the developing countries that are the worst affected by climate change. What we are witnessing today is the consequence of over two centuries of industrial activity and high consumption lifestyles in the developed world. They have to bear this historical responsibility. India will actively participate in the international negotiations on climate change within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Bali Action Plan."
He will attend outreach meetings of the G8, the group of eight most wealthy and industrialized countries in the world, and also meetings of the G5, the group of five most emerging economies (China, India, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa).
The town was devastated by an earthquake April 6 this year that left nearly 300 dead, over 1,500 injured and about 60,000 homeless.
"We would therefore like to see a concerted and well coordinated global response to address systemic failures and to stimulate the real economy. In the longer run, we would like to see a much higher level of stability and sustainability in the growth patterns of the developed world, and in international financial governance," the prime minister's statement said.
Manmohan Singh is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with United States President Barack Obama and other G8 leaders like those of UK, Germany and Italy.
"This will be an occasion for projecting India's views on major global issues relating to the world economic and financial crisis and its impact on development, food security, energy security and climate change, international trade negotiations and reform of international institutions," the statement said.
As part of the G8 related events, the Prime Minister will also participate in meetings of the Major Economies Forum (MEF) on trade matters, climate change and food security.
The prime minister said that issues of food security, energy security and climate change were closely interlinked. "They have to be approached as a single undertaking if we are to give meaning to the concept of sustainable development."
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=ff6ea15d-1dac-4f47-ac23-f4119b552974&Headline=PM+blames+developed+world+for+slowdown,+climate+change
Pune hit by water scarcity
8 Jul 2009, 0359 hrs IST, TNN
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Pune city is reeling under a 40 per cent cut in water supply since the last week withwater levels in dams providing water to Pune having
depleted following a subduded rainfall during this monsoon.
PMC gets around 11.5 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Metre) water from the four dams around the city. The dams as of today have mere 0.50 TMC (2% of total capacity) live water storage.
"The city as well as rural areas of district are facing a natural calamity. No rise in the water levels of dams has been registered since the beginning of monsoon. There is no option but to impose 40 per cent water cut," state water resources minister and also the Pune district guardian minister Ajit Pawar said.
"We are facing an unprecedented situation. The contingency plan to dig borewells is ready with the municipal corporation" says Pune Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade.
Normally, monsoon hits Pune on June 7. This year, monsoon was delayed by two weeks, it started on June 21 and throughout the season there was no consistency in the rainfall.
Though, Pune got a bit more rain in June 2009 (117.5 mm) as compared with the average rainfall for the month of June (113.5mm), on most days in June it did not rained. The average rainfall target was surpassed thanks to three big showers. Also, these showers did not helped improve the water storage in the dams as these showers lashed the city and not the catchment areas.
Also, the first week of July, has not witnessed much rain. According to IndiaMeteorological Department (IMD) normally by July 7, the average rain Pune receives is 162.5 mm. This year, by July 7, Pune got 129.5 mm rain, a shortfall of 33 mm.
"Lack of monsoon current is one the major reason for this subdued rainfall," said, A B Mazumdar,Deputy Director General Meteorology, IMD), adding "Apart from that an absence of massive rain bearing clouds was seen here leading to isolated rainfall activity." He, however, said that the situation was likely to improve in next couple days. " Good rainfall is expected in next couple of days," he said.
The commissioner of state agriculture department Prabhakar Deshmukh said "As per the report from agricultural universities the kharif crops are not in danger as of now as the sowing activities are expected to be undertaken till July 15. The losses to the Kharif crops will be reviewed only after July 15,"
" The delayed rain in Marathwada and Western Maharashtra region could affect the split green gram (moong) and split black gram (udit) crop production at least by 30 per cent," he said adding that it was too early to finalise on procurement prices of grains
The only solace is that the situation on the power front remains satisfactory in Pune city owing to a zero load shedding model introduced last year.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Pune-hit-by-water-scarcity/articleshow/4750677.cms
UN human rights chief for investigation into China violence
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Chinese troops flood into restive Urumqi
China poured troops into its Urumqi city in a massive show of force, as President Hu Jintao abandoned a G8 summit in Italy to deal with a deadly outbreak of ethnic unrest. With raw tensions between China's dominant Han people and its Muslim Uighurs showing no signs of easing, many Han residents insisted on carrying their own makeshift weapons following the violence.
Press Trust Of India
Washington, July 08, 2009
First Published: 07:47 IST(8/7/2009)
Last Updated: 07:49 IST(8/7/2009)
A top human rights official of the United Nations has expressed alarm at the high number of casualties sustained during this weekend's rioting in Urumqi, capital of China's Xinjiang and called for an investigation into the reasons for violence.
"This is an extraordinarily high number of people to be killed and injured in less than a day of rioting," Navi Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement and called on all people to show restraint in the wake of the "major tragedy".
News reports say that more than 150 people have been killed and 800 others injured during the violent clashes in China over the weekend.
"I urge Uighur and Han civic leaders, and the Chinese authorities at all levels, to exercise great restraint so as not to spark further violence and loss of life," Pillay said.
Pillay also underscored the need to maintain the right of demonstrators to exercise their freedom of expression peacefully. "I fully recognise that the authorities have an essential duty to maintain public order," she said.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=858d6f87-5224-4851-a320-fc9d26d0c7d3&ParentID=b408f3d9-0de1-49ad-ba0f-35fb7f9cf7e7&Headline=UN+human+rights+chief+for+investigation+into+China+violence
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