18-07-09

Mining – India 1
1. Target for indigenous steel production 1
2. Govt may divest in four mining units 3
3. Security beefed up at Nalco mines 3
4. WCL to use MEL waste to fill up abondoned mines 4
5. Bellary: Joint Survey on Mining Irregularities on Border Commences 5
6. Rio-Ivanhoe Mongolian Mine Closer to Approval, Ambassador Says 5
7. Cong MLAs slam 'partisan' Speaker 6
8. Orissa not committed to give iron ore forever 7
Mining – International 8
9. Consolidation in the mining industry 8
10. India's Jindal buys S.Africa Kiepersol coal mine 9
11. Coal miners boycotting Tennessee tourist sites 10
12. Mongolian parliament sidesteps mining pact with foreigners, asking the government to handle 11
13. S.Bank eyes Africa deals in mining, energy 12
14. Chinese small coal mines back in action 13
15. Gold stocks cash on new gold deposits, mines 14
16. Pay to mine 16
17. Transparency campaigners slam Niger mining contracts 17
Other News 18
18. Accused surrenders in court amid high drama 18
19. Rs 1,700 crore gone down the drain 18
20. Biofuel plantation in eastern districts 19
21. Budgetary allocation for development of Tribals 19
22. Expenditure 20
23. A Grain Of Good Sense 20
24. Protection to Traditional and Customary Rights and Interests of Fisherman 21


Mining – India

Target for indigenous steel production
________________________________________
17:19 IST
Rajya Sabha
National Steel Policy 2005 has projected India’s steel production capacity at 110 million tonnes by 2019-20. However, based on the investment scenario in the steel sector, it has been further assessed that the steel production capacity in the country is likely to be 124.06 million tonnes by the year 2011-12.
A number of major steel companies, including the two PSUs namely Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. (RINL) have announced investment in steel sector, both under capacity expansion (brown field) plans and new of Greenfield projects. The details of some of the major steel investments are as follows:
CRUDE STEEL CAPACITY
(in million tonnes)
Investor Existing Capacity Brownfield 2011-12 Greenfield 2011-12 Total capacity likely by
2011-12
SAIL 12.84 12.00 - 24.84
RINL 2.90 3.40 - 6.30
TATA Steel 6.80 3.20 3.00 13.00
Essar Steel 4.60 3.90 6.00 14.50
JSW Steel 6.90 4.10 - 11.00
JSPL 2.40 4.80 3.25 10.45
Ispat Industries 3.00 2.0 - 5.00
Bhushan Power & Steel 1.20 - 2.80 4.00
Bhushan Steel Ltd. 0.80 - 5.20 6.00
Other + Secondary Steel 23.00 - 5.97 28.97
Total 64.44 33.40 26.22 124.06
Government has no proposal for direct investment in expansion of steel capacities. However, the public sector steel units have made investment proposals for modernization, capacity expansion and setting up of new projects. The approximate costs of the proposal investments are SAIL: Rs. 70,000 crore, RINL: Rs. 12,000 crore and NMDC: Rs. 16,700 crore.
SAIL is not getting any financial help from the Government. During 2008-09 the company made a profit (profit after tax) of Rs. 6175 crore. However, some of its units namely – Alloy Steel Plant (ASP), Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant (VISL) and IISCO Steel Plant (ISP) have incurred losses.
SAIL is taking various steps to improve performance of ASP, VISL, and ISP. At ASP, SAIL has already implemented certain schemes which include installation of Argon Oxygen Decarburization, replacement of Electric Arc Furnace and Oxygen plant on BOO basis. Further installation of 2nd ladle furnace is under consideration. At VISL, some schemes are under implementation such as installation of new Bloom caster and new Reheating furnace in primary mill. At ISP, SAIL has undertaken modernization & expansion to increase production of hot metal from 0.85 Mt to 2.91 Mt. SAIL has also undertaken modernization and expansion of its five integrated steel plants at Bhilai, Bokaro, Rourkela, Durgapur and IISCO Steel Plant and the Special Steel Plant at Salem. This will increase production of hot metal from base level of 14.6 million tonnes per annum (2006-07 actual) to 23.46 million tone per annum under the current phase.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Steel Shri A. Sai Prathap in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=50546

Govt may divest in four mining units
18 Jul 2009, 1020 hrs IST, TNN

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NEW DELHI: The government is looking at four mining units under the administrative control of the steel ministry for stake sale. But a roadmap is

yet to be drawn. The move is being considered to meet funds requirement, a top government official said on Friday.

The names of National Mineral Development Corporation, Kudremukh Iron Ore Corporation, Manganese Ore (India) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam figured for stake sale during a meeting called by the finance secretary. But no decision has been taken yet on whether the government will shed part of its equity in these firms.

Separately in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Friday, minister of state for steel A Sai Prathap said the ministry has received proposals to divest its equity in RINL and MOIL. NMDC, the largest iron ore producer, is a ‘navratna’ company.

If the government considers divesting up to 10% equity in the company, it will be able to raise over Rs 10,000 crore. To another question in the Rajya Sabha, Sai Prathap said steel giant SAIL will see its workforce shrink by 20,000 by 2011-12.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Govt-may-divest-in-four-mining-units/articleshow/4791821.cms

Security beefed up at Nalco mines

TNN 17 July 2009, 11:15pm IST
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KORAPUT: Three months after Maoists attacked the Nalco-owned bauxite mines at Damanjodi, securityhas been beefed up in the area to thwart any


untoward incident.

On April 12, hundreds of Red rebels had swooped down on the magazine room and fire station in the mine complex, killing 10 CISF jawans. Four Maoists were killed in the 10-hour gun-battle. The extremists had also fled away with huge cache of ammunition from the magazine room.

According to officials, while security has been augmented at the magazine house which is the most vulnerable area, deployment of CISF personnel has also been increased from 89 to 197 in the mining area in the proximity of Panchpatmali hills

The magazine house is now protected with a multi layer protection system with chain link, barbed wire, power fencing and brick walls around the magazine house at the mines.

In addition to the security measures, Nalco has also made efforts to provide hygienic and improved living condition for jawans deployed at the magazine house to safeguard the explosives. "As the construction of a permanent barrack or any construction in the vicinity of the magazine house is strictly prohibited, CISF jawans have been provided with well furnished rest sheds at par with those used by defence personnel. The sheds are equipped with lighting system, wall mounted and exhaust fans, air cooler and vinyl flooring," an official said.

However, the PSU has also decided drastically reduced the storage of explosives at the magazine house to ward off any Maoist attack. "The stock of explosives is kept to the barest minimum of about 4-5 days of consumption," the official said. "Nalco is also exploring the possibilities of blast-free mining methods," he added.

Officials at Damanjodi said the post-Maoist attack measures taken by Nalco will improve the security system. It will also will provide a safe atmosphere to carry out mining operations, they added.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Bhubaneswar-Security-beefed-up-at-Nalco-mines/articleshow/4790717.cms


WCL to use MEL waste to fill up abondoned mines
Mazhar Ali, TNN 18 July 2009, 06:11am IST
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CHANDRAPUR: In a unique move towards utilisation of industrial waste Maharashtra Elektrosmelt Limited (MEL), a subsidiary of SAIL here, has


entered into an agreement with Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) to use granulated slag (waste) generated by the former for stowing in its underground mines. While WCL will get free of cost stowing material for its mines through this pact, MEL will get rid of around 5 lakh tonnes of waste slag accumulated over the last 22 years in the plant premises.

MEL is one of the largest manganese-based ferro alloy producers in the country. MEL has been producing silico manganese since the last 22 years. Over the years, the slag produced from the production process of silico manganese was being dumped inside the plant premises and about 5 lakh tonnes of slag had accumulated. The slag is a waste material and it does not have any metallurgical value.

MEL had approached WCL with a proposal to use the slag in place of sand for to fill up abandoned mines to ensure they do no cave in after some time, a process called mine stowing. Central Institute of Mining, Research and Fuel (CIMRF), Dhanbad, carried out a scientific study of the proposal and recommended use of a sand and slag admixture in a particular ratio for underground mine stowing. The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Nagpur, granted permission to use slag as stowing material in underground mines of WCL based on the CIMRF report.

MEL executive director D Pal, while appreciating the support by executives of WCL, said that utilisation of slag as a partial replacement to sand is an excellent example of innovation, which would help both MEL and WCL in a big way. "Innovation is the need for any business organisation to survive and prosper. Lack of innovation in business processes leads to negative growth in today's competitive environment," he said.
Pal added that transportation of the slag from MEL to WCL has already begun.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4791118.cms

Bellary: Joint Survey on Mining Irregularities on Border Commences


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Daijiworld Media Network - Bellary (SP)
Bellary, Jul 17: A team comprising of the officials of Indian Bureau of Mines, Survey of India apart from Karnataka government’s revenue and forest department officials, started the survey of the mining areas in the district on the state's border with Andhra Pradesh, on Thursday July 16.
The survey is being undertaken as per the orders of the state High Court. The need for the survey was felt because of complaints made by various miners about the alleged irregularities committed while conducting mining. Several mining companies have alleged that Obalapuram Mining Company, of which minister G Janardhan Reddy is one of the directors, had encroached upon the border of Karnataka with Andhra Paradesh. The company has permission to undertake mining only in Andhra Pradesh. The survey began at Tumati village on the state's border.
Dr B B Sinha, a union government official, who is heading the team, told the reporters that as far as the team is considered, it was a matter of dispute between two mining companies and not states. He expected the survey work to be completed in two days.
The police personnel were present in full strength to face any resistance. Tahsildar Venkatesh, deputy conservator of forests Muttiah, district Congress Committee president M Diwakar Babu etc were present during the survey.

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=62781&n_tit=Bellary:+Joint+Survey+on+Mining+Irregularities+on+Border+Commences

Rio-Ivanhoe Mongolian Mine Closer to Approval, Ambassador Says
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By Bloomberg News
July 17 (Bloomberg) -- Rio Tinto Group and Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.’s copper and gold mine venture in Mongolia moved closer to approval after parliament yesterday authorized the cabinet to finalize an accord, Mongolia’s ambassador to China said.
Remaining issues under debate, including tax rates, will be negotiated by a group on the Mongolian side of less than 10 people, including the ministers in charge of energy and minerals, finance and environment, and won’t require any further approval from the 76-member parliament, according to GalsanBatsukh, who spoke in a telephone interview today.
Batsukh declined to give an exact time frame for final approval.
“Our understanding is at the earliest possible date because Mongolia really needs this project started,” the ambassador said.
Ivanhoe shares trading in Toronto fell the most in four months yesterday on concern that the resolution and the need for more negotiations signaled further delay in talks that have already dragged on for five years.
The government decided that parliament should not be involved in approving the details of the agreement because it is a business matter, rather than a policy or legislative matter, according to Batsukh.
“There was a decision made last week that the parliament will have nothing to do with the agreement itself,” he said. “The government drew a line between the business issues and the policy and legislative issues.”
That division of responsibility is likely to apply to other major natural resource and mining deals, with parliament charged with authorizing the cabinet to negotiate an agreement, leaving negotiation and final approval to the cabinet, Batsukh said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=a6hmP7wSMrZQ

Cong MLAs slam 'partisan' Speaker
TNN 17 July 2009, 11:08pm IST
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BHUBANESWAR: The Opposition on Friday trained its gun against Speaker Pradip Amat, complaining against "inadequate" allotment of time in the


Assembly to raise different issues. Congress members even trooped to the well of the House to lodge a protest against what they described as "injustice" meted out to Opposition legislators.

Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh said Opposition MLAs were not given enough opportunity to speak while the ruling BJD lawmakers cornered the maximum time during a debate on the demand for budgetary grants of steel and mines department on Thursday evening. He also remonstrated against the Speaker allowing Treasury bench members to raise the issue of "insufficient" allocation of funds for Orissa in this fiscal's Railway Budget, even though the Opposition was on Friday deprived of the opportunity to initiate a debate through an adjournment motion notice on grounds that a discussion on the demand for budgetary grants of revenue department would be taken up in the House.

While the Congress legislators created a furore over the issue and resorted to slogan-shouting to highlight their grievance, the Speaker brushed aside the allegations and maintained that the Opposition members were given more time than the Treasury bench MLAs during the debate on steel and mines department. He even defended his decision to permit BJD MLAs to speak about the Railway Budget, saying that the issue was in "state interest".

Some Treasury bench lawmakers also tried to jump to Amat's defence, dubbing the Opposition charges as "baseless". Parliamentary affairs minister Raghunath Mohanty, too, came forward, justifying the manner in which the Speaker was conducting the House. "The amount of time allotted to the Opposition and Treasury bench legislators was done in consonance with decisions taken at the Assembly Business Advisory Committee," he said.

The Speaker then assured the MLAs that a meeting of senior leaders from the Opposition and Treasury benches would soon be convened to deliberate over the issue of time allotment, leading to the Congress MLAs relenting from their position and return of normalcy to the House.

The Opposition has, of late, started targeting the Speaker and in recent days put the latter in an embarrassing situation by going hammer and tongs over the illegal mining scam, involving Ram Bahadur Thakur Limited in Keonjhar district, on grounds that it was perpetrated during his tenure as steel and mines minister.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Bhubaneswar-Cong-MLAs-slam-partisan-Speaker/articleshow/4790706.cms

Orissa not committed to give iron ore forever

Press Trust of India / Bhubaneswar July 17, 2009, 13:29 IST

Indicating shortage of iron ore in near future, Orissa government has said it was not committed to provide raw material linkage to steel plants on long term basis.

"Orissa government has nowhere assured industries in the MoUs to provide raw material supply on long term basis.

The industries could arrange iron ore or any other raw materials required for steel making from other sources," Industries and Steel & Mines minister Raghunath Mohanty told the assembly last night while replying debate on the budget demand of the departments.

Though the state had entered into agreement with at least 49 steel makers for setting up units in Orissa, it could face scarcity of iron ore, the basic raw material required for steel making, if all the units started production to full of their capacities of 76 MTPA.

The state has a reserve of 5300 million tons of iron ore of which 3000 MT had already been leased out while many industries were yet to come up to the production stage. Of the 49 MoUs, only 28 units had gone to partial production.

"We doubt, the state's iron ore reserve could be finished only in seven years in case all the 49 units started production to their capacities," Opposition Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan of Congress said.

Harichandan alleged that mindless mining and rampant theft of valuable minerals could lead Orissa into a mineral less state from being one of the richest state in terms of mineral deposits.

"I want specific reply from the government on its plan on how to tackle situation when the iron ore reserves were finished," he said.

Stating that amount of the state's mineral reserve were being re-accessed, the minister said as much as 10.4 million ton of fresh iron reserve had been located at Dholta hills in Sundargarh district while one million ton of the same mineral was found deposited at Potagarh hills in Nawrangpur district.

Similarly, the minister said as much as eight million tons of bauxite was located at Ushabali range in Kandhamal district while one million ton of limestone (required for cement making) was located at Ramuguda near Khariar in Nuapada district.

This apart, about 70 million ton of coal of E, F and G grade was found reserved at Ib valley region in Jharsuguda district.

Three different agencies like Geological Survey of India, Indian Bureau of Mines and directorate of Geology, Orissa, were engaged in a survey of new mineral deposits in the state, the minister said adding that the government had issued leases for mining of major minerals to 602 companies or persons.



http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/orissa-not-committed-to-give-iron-ore-forever/68046/on


Mining – International

Consolidation in the mining industry
Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:43pm IST

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LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) - Mining companies have moved in recent months to agree mergers and acquisitions in a bid to snap up assets while prices are still low.
Here are some of the recent deals and dealtalks in the sector.
For a similar Factbox on the oil and gas sector please click on [ID:nLF29217].
* African miners Randgold Resources (RRS.L: Quote, Profile, Research) and AngloGold Ashanti (ANGJ.J: Quote, Profile, Research) team up to make a cash-and-shares bid worth $488 million for Moto Goldmines (MGL.TO: Quote, Profile, Research). [ID:nLG165129] (July 16)
* London-listed Central African Mining and Exploration Company (CFM.L:Quote, Profile, Research) says it has received offer approaches, responding to speculation Brazil's Vale (VALE5.SA: Quote, Profile,Research) or a Chinese materials group could be interested. [ID:nLG75825] (July 16)
* World number 4 platinum producer Aquarius Platinum (AQP.AX: Quote,Profile, Research) takes over Ridge Mining (RDG.L: Quote, Profile,Research), with the latter's Blue Ridge Mine producing platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold. [ID:nLE311911] (July 14)
* Banking sources tell Reuters London-listed Kazakh miner ENRC (ENRC.L:Quote, Profile, Research) is considering a bid for Sierra Leone-focused African Minerals (AMIq.L: Quote, Profile, Research), which has a market capitalisation of around $699 million. [ID:nLA600120] (July 10)
* Anglo American (AAL.L: Quote, Profile, Research) rejects nil-premium merger proposal from Xstrata (XTA.L: Quote, Profile, Research) that would create a group worth about $73 billion. [ID:nLA342519] [ID:nLO264669] [ID:nLM97031] (June 22)
* Gold exploration company Centamin Egypt (CNT.AX: Quote, Profile,Research) (CEY.L: Quote, Profile, Research) seen as possible takeover target as production starts approaches. [ID:nLJ324240] (June 19)
* Vedanta Resources' (VED.L: Quote, Profile, Research) Indian unit and iron ore miner Sesa Goa (SESA.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) acquires assets of Goa's Dempo Group for around $368 million. [ID:nBOM345267] (June 12)
* Russian gold miner Polyus Gold PLZq.L (PLZL.MM: Quote, Profile,Research) buys a controlling stake in KazakhGold Group Ltd (KZGq.L:Quote, Profile, Research) in a cash and share deal worth around $269 million. [ID:nLC724856] (June 12)
* China's Minmetals acquires most of debt-laden Oz Minerals (OZL.AX:Quote, Profile, Research) for about $1.4 billion. [ID:nSP488757] (June 11)
* Rio Tinto (RIO.L: Quote, Profile, Research) (RIO.AX: Quote, Profile,Research) ditches tie-up with Chinalco [ALUMI.UL] in favour of a $21 billion rights issue and joint venture with BHP Billiton (BLT.L: Quote,Profile, Research) (BHP.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) [ID:nSYD73514] [ID:nSP393349] (June 5)
(Compiled by Victoria Bryan and Rosalba O'Brien)
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINLH17866420090717?sp=true

India's Jindal buys S.Africa Kiepersol coal mine
Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:08pm IST

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LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) - India's Jindal Steel & Power (JNSP.BO:Quote, Profile, Research), part of the Jindal Group, has bought the Kiepersol thermal coal mine in South Africa, industry sources said on Friday.
The deal marked the first completed purchase of a coal mine in South Africa by an Indian entity, they said.
State and privately-owned Indian companies have been seeking South African coal assets for the past several years because local supplies can't meet booming demand. These include Indian trading companies, steel makers and even state coal producer Coal of India.
"The deal was finalised very recently. They've all been looking hard for several years but I don't know of another example where a deal has gone through," one source said.
Kiepersol is a mothballed, underground mine which produces mid-low volatile content thermal coal used mostly for power generation, the sources said.
The mine was sold by a group of private shareholders to Jindal for an undisclosed price. The mine was originally developed by Duiker, which sold its mines to Xstrata.
Kiepersol is in Piet Retief, Mpumalanga. The 12-16 pct volatile content coal is likely to be exported via the Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal because there is no stockpile space for that quality of coal at Richards Bay Coal Terminal.
Jindal is expected to use the coal for power generation rather than a metallurgical application. The energy content of the coal is comparable to standard South African RB1 coal but the volatile range is lower.
Some power plants such as those in Spain and parts of the UK are designed to take low-vol coal or anthracite but the majority of plants around the world would need to blend this type of coal with a higher-vol material, the sources said.
The difference between anthracite and thermal coal is not clearly defined. Coal tends to be classified as anthracite if its volatile content is below a certain level.
The deal was completed and payment made in June, they said.
There are four parts of the Jindal group which manufacture different types of steel and steel products. At least three of these subsidiaries have been looking for iron ore and coal mines to buy in South Africa, Indonesia, Australia and Latin America.
JSW Steel, one of the Jindal subsidiaries, has been discussing thermal coal long-term supply agreements with South African coal producers this month but has not yet signed any deals.
(Reporting by Jackie Cowhig, Editing by Michael Kahn)

http://in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINLH12756220090717?sp=true

Coal miners boycotting Tennessee tourist sites
By ROGER ALFORD (AP) – 8 hours ago
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Angry Appalachian coal miners are refusing to vacation in Tennessee because they say one of that state's political leaders wants to eliminate needed jobs by banning mountaintop removal.
Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander is sponsoring legislation that would bar coal companies from the controversial mining practice that involves blasting away mountaintops to unearth coal and dumping dirt, rock and trees into the valleys beneath. Such a ban would effectively halt the destructive form of mining.
Miners in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia are taking part in the protest, said Roger Horton, director of Citizens for Coal, the pro-coal advocacy group that organized the boycott.
Horton, a miner on a mountaintop-removal operation in West Virginia, said some 5,000 coal miners already have joined the week-old boycott, which he hopes will spread to involve all of the nation's 81,000 coal miners.
The boycott will continue, Horton said, until Alexander relents.
"He needs to mind his own business," Horton said. "Why fool with us? We have good congressmen and senators here who know what's best for West Virginia. We don't need his interference."
But Alexander said Appalachia's mountaintops should be preserved, not destroyed.
"I understand their feelings," Alexander told The Associated Press on Friday. "But I have feelings, too. And my feelings are that millions of people come to Tennessee to see the beauty of the mountaintops and not to see mountains whose tops have been blown off with the waste dumped in our streams — which is all I am trying to stop."
Coal isn't the huge employer in Tennessee that it is in other Appalachian states. Tennessee has just over 500 miners. West Virginia has more than 20,000. And Kentucky has about 17,000.
Horton said he believes if enough people forgo trips to the Great Smoky Mountains and to popular tourist destinations around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, including Dollywood, that Alexander would feel pressure to abandon the legislation.
Kentucky Coal Association President Bill Caylor said he expects the boycott to grow.
"We're hoping that people will stop giving business to a state that wants to eliminate the coal industry," Caylor said. "That's just common sense. If somebody wants to end your livelihood, then why should you give them business?"
Democratic state Rep. Fitz Steele, a former miner in the eastern Kentucky coalfields, said the boycott is gaining steam beyond the miners themselves. Store clerks, waitresses, even politicians whose livelihoods are affected by mining are taking part.
"I won't be going to Tennessee," Steele said. "Mining has benefited our area. It's given our people jobs."
In Logan County, W.Va., county administrator Rocky Adkins has canceled a planned visit to Pigeon Forge later this month. Adkins serves one of the nation's largest coal-producing counties.
"Because of the stance of the senator has taken to abolish my job, I could not in good conscience spend my money in the great state of Tennessee," he said.
Mining communities along the Kentucky-Tennessee border, where interstate trade is the norm, don't appear as eager to join the boycott.
TECO Coal, with headquarters near the Tennessee border, initially announced that it had joined the boycott, saying the legislation hurts miners and businesses in the region. Days later, however, the company relented, and spokesman Jim J. Shackleford issued a statement of apology.
"We regret our previous action, which was an emotional response that doesn't benefit our 1,200 employees, the eastern Kentucky communities we support, the environment we work to protect or our neighbors in Tennessee."
___
Associated Press writers Brian Farkas and Tim Huber in Charleston, W.Wv. and Duncan Mansfield in Knoxville, Tenn., contributed to this report.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects spelling of "Smoky" instead of "Smoky" in 10th graf. Moving on general news and financial services.)


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i4GCBX2Mw9lPxQsz0Sq7DXz_H8wgD99GEDL84

Mongolian parliament sidesteps mining pact with foreigners, asking the government to handle
GANBAT NAMJILSANGARAV, Associated Press Writer
1:16 AM PDT, July 17, 2009
ULAN BATOR, Mongolia (AP) — Mongolia's parliament, unable to agree on a mining deal, has given the government a freehand to renegotiate terms with Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. and Rio Tinto Ltd. over the long-delayed copper and gold project.

After several days of heated discussions, the Great Hural, as the parliament is known, decided Thursday not to vote on the latest draft investment agreement with the mining companies.
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In ordering renewed negotiations, parliament also authorized the government to conclude a deal without further legislative approval. Lawmakers recognized that any agreement would be so complex and fraught with politics that they are unlikely to ever agree on it.

Legislators balked over the complicated details and provisions that would initially cap Mongolia's share of the massive Oyu Tolgoi mine to 34 percent while exempting the foreign miners from a windfall-profits and customs tax.

Negotiations over Oyu Tolgoi in the southern Gobi desert have sputtered on since 2001 as Mongolia grapples with how best to exploit the impoverished landlocked country's sizable mineral wealth. The protracted dealmaking has become a test of the government's willingness to welcome foreign investment and counterbalance the country's economic dependence on neighbors China and Russia.
"We have been discussing this investment agreement for such a long time now that everybody in Mongolia talks as if they are professional geologists and miners," said Chuluunbaatar Ochirbat, a lawmaker with the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party.

The parliament's latest order to the government to renegotiate the mining deal comes after lawmakers rejected an agreement in 2005 and a renegotiated pact in December 2008. Parliament also called in April for the government to negotiate better terms for the Mongolian side.

Canadian-based Ivanhoe reacted cautiously to parliament's decision, saying in a statement that it expected to reopen discussions soon and hoped to conclude an agreement.

During their debate, lawmakers noted that delays over an agreement might deter foreign miners and they raised questions about whether Rio Tinto would remain involved.

The Anglo-Australian mining giant is hitting rocky times with China, one of its largest customers and the likely purchaser of Oyu Tolgoi's cooper and gold.

Rio Tinto recently rebuffed an investment offer by state-run Aluminum Corp. of China, and Chinese police are holding a senior Rio executive and three other employees on espionage charges related to negotiations on iron ore purchasing prices.

http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-as-mongolia-mining-agreement,0,4670727.story

S.Bank eyes Africa deals in mining, energy
Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:34pm IST

By Serena Chaudhry
JOHANNESBURG, July 16 (Reuters) - Standard Bank (SBKJ.J: Quote,Profile, Research) is working on deals in Africa with its Chinese partner in mining, oil and gas and infrastructure as part of its drive into emerging markets, Chief Executive Jacko Maree said on Friday.
Africa's biggest bank by assets sees "huge interest" in the continent from China and hopes to capitalise on its partnership with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) (1398.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) (601398.SS: Quote, Profile, Research), which owns 20 percent of the South African bank.
"We are working on a number of transactions with ICBC. Clearly the things you would expect are in the areas of oil and gas, mining and infrastructure in particular," he told Reuters Television in an interview.
ICBC bought the stake in Standard Bank in 2008 as part of a plan to bring together Chinese capital and Standard's expertise in emerging African markets.
Maree said in June it was working with ICBC on about 60 deals on the African continent.
The two firms said in May they would finance the expansion of a coal power station in Botswana for $825 million over 20 years. The deal was the first major transaction between Standard Bank and ICBC, and was backed by a guarantee from Botswana's ministry of finance.
Maree said that deal "gives a sense of the type of transaction we are looking at".
Standard Bank has also received a $400 million credit line from the World Bank's private sector branch to fund trade in sub-Saharan Africa.
Many Chinese companies are state-backed, giving them access to Beijing's massive funding reserves and freeing them from the need to placate shareholders.
Aside from the African continent, Standard Bank has a presence in South America and in March snapped up a 33 percent stake in Russia's No. 2 investment bank Troika Dialog.
(Editing by Rebecca Harrison)
((rebecca.harrison@thomsonreuters.com; +27 11 775 3160; Reuters Messaging: rebecca.harrison.reuters.com@reuters.net))
(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com) Keywords: STANDARDBANK/
(C) Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution ofReuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expresslyprohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuterssphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group ofcompanies around the world.nLH205101
http://in.reuters.com/article/bankingfinancial-SP/idINLH20510120090717?sp=true

Chinese small coal mines back in action
Saturday, 18 Jul 2009
Reuters reported that some of China's small coal mines are returning to production as the country enters the hottest time of the year, releasing some of the tightness in the market caused by efforts to tighten safety by shutting small mines

Several provinces' efforts to tighten up and close small operators, often the least efficient and most dangerous coal producers, have tightened China's coal supply this year, a major factor driving China's record imports of coal in recent months, in addition to weaker international prices.

The Shanxi Administration of Coal Mine Safety said Shanxi, China's top coal producing province allowed 633 coal mines to return to production in the H1 of the year or a quarter of mines in the province.

Mr Wang Ye an analyst with CITIC Securities said "Some mines may have reached safety standards and are allowed to produce again. Another important factor is that Shanxi's government revenues have taken a blow after small mines were shut. Fiscal revenues in local governments are running dry."

Mr Wang said Shanxi's coal output in June rose about 10 million tonnes or 20% to nearly 60 million tonnes. Last year Shanxi produced 656 million tonnes of coal up by 4%YoY from a year earlier, or about 23% of the country's total output. Gross domestic production in the first quarter of the year, however, contracted 8.1%YoY compared with a 12.5% rise a year earlier.

He said that between starving and having their career blown away by a fatal mine accident, local government officials are pretty much between a rock and a hard place. Data due to be released later in the week is expected to show that output in the world's largest producer of the hydrocarbon rose in June after surging 10% on the year to 248 million tonnes in May.”

Helping boost coal demand, China's power output returned to positive territory in June for the first time in months, up 3.6%YoY from a year earlier, as the weather and the economy both began to warm up.

Analysts said a full-blown recovery in small mines' production is unlikely to happen ahead of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic in October, since high-profile accidents during such politically sensitive periods would be career bombs for local government officials.

Analysts and industrial officials said China's coal market is likely to be in balance, or perhaps show a small surplus, through the summer despite growing demand.

Mr Chen Liang an analyst with Everbright Securities said "Demand is looking good, thanks to growing industrial activity. Supply is improving as well, not only because of small mines, but also due to high coal imports."

China's coal imports hit record high levels over 9 million tonnes in April and May. Data for June is not yet available, but imports were likely at a similarly high level.

(Source from Reuters)

http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/18/MTAyNzg4/Chinese_small_coal_mines_back_in_action.html

Gold stocks cash on new gold deposits, mines
2009-07-17 12:40:00

By Kishori Krishnan
It is a small Quebec town and it has great potential. In a $1 billion project, the streets of Malartic will soon be ripped asunder and residents relocated to get at one of the largest gold deposits in North America discovered under the town.

The streets of Malartic in northwestern Quebec may not be paved with gold, but the ground underneath them is. Some time next year, Osisko Mining Corp. plans to start ripping up those streets and digging what will become Canada’s biggest open-pit gold mine.

Some of the town’s residents oppose the mine on environmental grounds, but many are happy about the economic benefits it will bring to their economically depressed region, including 465 permanent jobs and close to 800 construction jobs.

“This has given us a second lease on life,” said Mayor André Vézeau. “We’ve been in decline since 1997.” Until a few years ago, residents in the southern end of Malartic had no idea their homes were built on one of the largest gold deposits in Canada. Osisko began drilling hundreds of holes in the streets in 2005 on a hunch there was gold fairly close to the surface. It discovered one of the largest gold deposits in North America - an estimated 6.28-million ounces and another 3.65-million ounces on adjacent properties.

With gold prices rising after years of stagnation to more than US$ 900 an ounce, investors are anxious to cash in on the potential profits as quickly as possible. However, the only feasible way to undertake the project is as an open-pit mine, the company says, and that will require displacing several hundred residents.

“Open-pit mines have an economy of scale,” Osisko president Sean Roosen had said in an interview. “An easy comparison is that underground mining costs between $65 and $150 a ton. … In open-pit mining it would be about $1.80 a ton. This deposit would not be economical as an underground mine.”

The mine will eventually be two kilometres long, 800 meters wide and 380 metres deep - deep enough to bury the Eiffel Tower. The only thing separating the pit from the community will be a `green wall’ 80 metres wide and 15 metres high.

At least four new open-pit mining projects are in the process of being evaluated, including an ore deposit near Amos, some 50 kilometres north of Malartic, that could be as much as three times the size of the Osisko mine.

Stocking up

The price of gold has been on a volatile ride over the past few months. Gold stocks, as a leveraged bet on gold prices, have been even more volatile. A few months ago it looked like gold was on the verge of a big move higher and was knocking on the $1,000 an ounce door. Once again, it was turned away.

That doesn’t mean gold is done forever. In fact, the opportunity in gold has only become more compelling. The realistic consideration of a second stimulus, the long awaited launch of the Treasury’s PPIP, and the growing government deficits, will go a long way to proving this correction in gold will be temporary, insist analysts.

That’s why right now gold stocks are looking good once again. A prominent official at Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia claimed on Saturday (July 11, 2009) that gold prices should reach $1,050 per ounce by the end of 2009, the Star reports. The yellow metal reached its record high of $1,030 per ounce last March, but has struggled to overcome resistance on the few occasions it has subsequently tested the level.

Barrick Gold

Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) which closed Monday at $31.99 is shining on. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $17.27 and 52-week high of $52.48. Barrick Gold stock has been showing support around $30.23 and resistance in the $32.87 range. Technical indicators for the stock are bearish.

Kinross Gold

Kinross Gold (NYSE: KGC) closed Monday at $18.21. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $6.85 and 52-week high of $25.36. Kinross Gold stock has been showing support around $16.88 and resistance in the $18.88 range. Technical indicators for the stock are bullish.

Evolving Gold Corp

Evolving Gold Corp. (TSXV:EVG), a Vancouver-based junior miner, saw its shares soar 47 per cent after the company reported promising drilling results at its Rattlesnake Hills gold deposit in Wyoming. After an early trading halt, the company’s stock jumped 21 cents to 66 cents, a gain of 46.7 per cent in heavy trading of more than 2.2 million shares on the TSX Venture Exchange.

Evolving Gold said Rattlesnake is an gold system with similar geology to the Cripple Creek gold deposit in Colorado. Three core drills are currently operating at Rattlesnake to test the extensions of high grade gold deposits identified in 2008. “Rattlesnake has many geological similarities to the Cripple Creek deposit in Colorado, where over 20 million ounces were mined from high grade underground operations, and where Anglo Ashanti is currently mining the halo gold mineralization,” said president and chief geologist Quinton Hennigh. “The results of our drilling are indicating a major new body of gold mineralization.”

In another development, Evolving Gold said it had entered into a private placement with Golden Predator Royalty and Development Corp. (TSXV:GPD) for a private placement of $500,000. The company also has gold properties in New Mexico and Nevada.

Centamin Egypt

Centamin Egypt Ltd (CEY.L) on Tuesday announced an increase in gold resource estimates at its flagship Sukari project in Egypt. The company (CNT.AX) (CEE.TO) said the resource estimate was upgraded by about 520,000 ounces, or 6 per cent, from its February statement to 9.91 million on a measured and indicated basis, and contains about 3.3 million ounces of inferred resources.

The AIM-listed company said drilling indicates that mineralization continues further north of the existing reserve, with continuous high grades in the deeper zones. Centamin moved into production at the end of June. It is seen as a possible takeover target by one of the large gold producers once it ramps up output and successfully exports its gold.

“While the stock may continue to be driven by a takeover premium, we reiterate that Centamin is still attractive given the blend of more than 10 years of reserves, low technical risk, low political risk and no debt,” said Julian Emery, an analyst at Ambrian Capital.

ATW Gold Corp.

ATW Gold Corp. (TSX.V:ATW) is producing gold in Australia and it’s got one mine in production. Traders insist they’re not a large producer right now, but it looks like they should be very cash flow positive, producing profits from two different mines very soon, with huge exploration potential.

Apollo Gold Corp.

Apollo Gold Corp. (TSX:APG) is turning out to be favorite for traders. The company is set to produce gold at the rate of about 150,000 ounces per year at a cash cost of under $350 from its Black Fox property in Ontario. But where the story gets really exciting is in the blue sky potential it holds.

The company just reported some drill results from the Grey Fox property, which is located 3.5 kilometers away and along strike with the Black Fox. The assays suggest an even higher grade for open pit mining than at the Black Fox mine where current production is taking place.

Gold price

Gold prices jumped to a one-week high of $926 Tuesday lunchtime in London, ticking back with world stock markets and non-US currencies after US retail sales and producer-price inflation both showed a sharper than expected recovery.

Asian stock markets reversed Monday’s 2 per cent losses, while European shares unwound July’s losses to date. Gold prices had already leapt 1.6 per cent as London trade drew to a close on Monday, rising as US equities jumped 2.5 per cent for the session after banking analyst Meredith Whitney upgraded her view of Goldman Sachs ahead of the investment bank’s second-quarter earnings report.

“We are going to see very good numbers not just from Goldman,” said one Swiss find manager to Bloomberg this morning. “Stronger equity markets have been the main driver behind the base metals on Tuesday morning,” said a note from Standard Bank’s commodity team. “Also supporting commodity prices has been a sharp fall in the VIX (volatility) index, suggesting that risk appetite is on the increase again.”

Courtesy: Gold Investing News

http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Gold-stocks-cash-on-new-gold-deposits-mines-19669-3-1.html

Pay to mine
End free pass for hardrock mining
Tribune Editorial
Updated: 07/17/2009 07:43:25 PM MDT

The role played by hardrock mining in the nation's expansion from shore to shore is incalculable. More easily quantified is the imprint that mining has made on the people, wildlife and landscapes of the West. And thatcalculation clearly shows that for hardrock mining today, both time and place are out of joint.
In its 21st century incarnation, the West is primarily urban, while the 19th century law that gave metals miners free rein to pan and dig where they pleased has survived nearly intact. This disparity between eras and long practice has had appalling consequences for the people, the environment and the public lands of the West, as well as for the nation's taxpayers, and the toll grows by the day.
That is why Congress must finally rewrite the antiquated General Mining Act of 1872 to tax and regulate mining of gold, silver, uranium, copper and other valuable minerals, just as coal and natural gas producers have long been taxed and regulated. It is also why we applaud Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who on Tuesday told the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources that mining reform is dangerously overdue and urgently needed.
The 1872 law ensures that mining is rated "the highest and best use" of public lands where there are minerals present, never mind its impacts on public health, wildlife, and the West's most scenic and sensitive splendors. And it gives this wealth of public resources tax-free to the mining companies. They, in
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turn, continue to add to the law's legacy of abandoned mines and deadly pollutants such as mercury, arsenic, and uranium that contaminate the watersheds so crucial to inhabitants of the arid West. Because many mine owners do not adequately reclaim the land, federal taxpayers are on the hook for the billions of dollars required to clean up the toxic mess left behind.
Hardrock minerals worth roughly $1 billion are pulled from public lands each year, tax-free. And mining companies can "patent" public land for years for their exclusive use, without paying the rental or user fees that are charged to ranchers and recreationists, for example. Heavily regulated coal, oil, and gas companies, which pay to lease public land, pay up to 17 percent in production royalties.
Current legislation that would tax hardrockers up to 5 percent and mandate cleanup costs faces heavy going. Representatives of minerals states argue the reforms would devastate some communities and the industry's ability to compete in global markets.
We believe those arguments pale before the higher price exacted by a law written for another time.


http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12863157

Transparency campaigners slam Niger mining contracts
(AFP) – 11 hours ago
NIAMEY — Transparency campaigners Friday criticised Niger over the lack of information surrounding government oil and mining contracts with foreign firms in the world's third biggest uranium producer.
The campaigners condemned the "opaqueness" surrounding oil and mining contracts, and demanded "full publication in the official gazette and the elimination of confidentiality clauses," according to a statement.
The statement was released after a forum comprising non-governmental organisations, donors and journalists, organised by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (ITIE).
The forum also called on Niger government to introduce a law ensuring public access to mining industry documents.
Niger, which also produces gold, is among around 30 countries which signed up to the EITI process launched in Johannesburg in 2002 by British prime minister Tony Blair.
Local NGOs recently slammed the "vagueness" of the authorities over around 100 uranium and oil prospecting licences granted to foreign firms, including French nuclear group Areva.
"Despite Niger's membership of EITI, the authorities find it difficult to respect transparency in the extractive industry," said EITI official Ali Idrissa.
The EITI comprises NGOs, mining companies and the Niger government.
Idrissa expressed dismay over parliament's rejection in May of a commission of inquiry into the mining contracts.
Touareg rebels have been waging a war in the uranium-rich north of the country since 2007 to claim an equitable share of the revenue from the mines.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5imsRmgZBdpq13FUu379n_3LxKFaQ
Other News


Accused surrenders in court amid high drama

Correspondent
KORAPUT: Trilochan Muduli, who is an accused in two cases, surrendered in the court amid high drama on Friday. Police had filed two cases against Trilochan who was leading the movement against establishment of Cobra Battalion near Rajuput panchayat. According to Sriharicharan Ghosh, advocate for Trilochan , the accused had obtained an anticipatory bail from the High Court with a direction to surrender before the lower court.
However, Trilochan, who had been trying to approach the SDJM court here for the last seven days could not reach the court premises for fear of being arrested by the police waiting in civil dress, he said. Trilochan tried to enter the court in the disguise of a woman on Friday. Dressed like a woman, he entered the court premises along with a group of tribal women.
But the police caught him. An hour-long tussle between the women and police ensued in front of the court.
Nihar Ranjan Patnaik, president of the Koraput Bar Association, said such actions by police would dilute the faith of common man in the law of land. The women carried Trilochan on their arms to the court room where he surrendered before the court.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/18/stories/2009071856720300.htm


Rs 1,700 crore gone down the drain
18 Jul 2009, 0556 hrs IST, PTI

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NEW DELHI: In a frank admission, the Centre on Friday said in the Lok Sabha that Ganga and Yamuna were “no cleaner” now than two decades ago,

despite spending over Rs 1,700 crore for checking their pollution. “I admit with full responsibility that Ganga and Yamuna are no cleaner than 20 years ago,” environment minister Jairam Ramesh responded to a calling-attention motion on checking pollution in rivers and lakes in India.

He said a “determined and renewed effort” was required to cleanse these major rivers. To a question by BJP MP Adityanath on the cleanliness of the two major rivers of North India, Mr Ramesh said he could provide figures on their pollution levels but “I myself don’t believe these numbers... For a layman, the answer is a depressing no.”

While over Rs 816 crore was spent on two phases of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP), Rs 682 crore was spent on the first phase of the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) in the first phase and another Rs 190 crore on the second phase so far, he said.

Referring to the National Ganga River Basin Authority headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said global tender for project consultants to prepare a basin management plan have attracted 30 bids and the selection would be done in the next two months.

In another reply in the Lok Sabha, rural development minister C P Joshi said the West Bengal government provided only 14 days of employment under NREGA in 2006-07, despite a guarantee of 100-days’ job. Mr Joshi said it was states’ responsibility to provide 100-days employment to a household as provided in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, but unfortunately states are not carrying out their responsibilities.

“NREGA is demand-based. The Act provides a legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work,” he said adding the Centre has made provision of funds and these are released as and when demanded by states.

The guaranteed days of employment in West Bengal went up to 25 days in 2007-08 and 26 in 2008-09, he said adding this shows the state was not taking care of its rural population.

He said only nine districts in the country so far have availed the facility of 100 days employment under NREGA.
As reported by the state governments, he said the number of households which completed 100 days of employment was 21,42,728 during 2006-07 and 65,10,373 during 2008-09.

In the current financial year so far 1,10,910 households have availed employment, Mr Joshi said. The minister said some incidents of corruption were noticed in some states and corrective steps taken.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/Rs-1700-crore-gone-down-the-drain/articleshow/4791535.cms

Biofuel plantation in eastern districts
TNN 18 July 2009, 06:27am IST
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BANGALORE: The task force on biofuel has identified 6,400 hectares of degradable land in the rain-fed eastern districts of Karnataka for biofuel


plantation during monsoon.

Of these, 3,100 hectares of forest degraded land will be covered by biofuel plantation, involving 96 village forest committees (VFCs) under NREGA. Under the special development project envisaged by the Dr Nanjudappa report, 3,300 hectares of government waste, C and D lands will be covered by biofuel species with the involvement of 52 VFCs. An additional 140 more VFCs are being set up as ultimate beneficiaries.

As a pilot project, 15 gram panchayats in taluks of Jagalur, Harapanahalli and Davanagere have been chosen for plantation along the fence and bunds of farmer land. "The cost of plantation will be paid by farmers under NREGA scheme. We plan to cover 1 lakh hectares of government wasteland under biofuel cultivation," Y B Ramakrishna, chairman of the task force, said on Friday.

With over 500 buses in the state running on biodiesel blended with diesel, the blending of ethanol with diesel will soon be extended from 1,500 to 5,500 buses. With the support of oil companies, the task force plans to extend this blended fuel across the state.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4790860.cms

Budgetary allocation for development of Tribals
________________________________________
16:57 IST
Lok Sabha
The details of budgetary allocation and expenditure of Ministry of Tribal Affairs during the last three years and allocation for the current year are given below:
Budget Estimates (BE) and Expenditure during 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and BE 2009-10
( Rs. In Crore)
Year Budget Estimates Expenditure
2006-07 1656.90 1647.73
2007-08 1719.17 1524.32
2008-09 2121.00 1805.92
2009-10 2705.50
Planning Commission provides budgetary support to various Ministries including Ministry of Tribal Affairs keeping in view the overall Gross Budgetary support and prioritisationof sector requirements. Further, the Central (line) Ministries allocate 10% of their total budgetary Support for the North Eastern Region, which houses a large segment of the tribal population. In addition, these Ministries are also required to earmark a minimum of 8% of their budgetary support as Tribal Sub-Plan Component.
The shortfall in the expenditure has been mainly on account of lack of proposals from the State Governments and non-submission of utilization certificates in respect of amounts already released to them. The state Governments are periodically addressed and persuaded through letters, telephonic calls, visits and in meetings to spend their allocations, submit utilization certificates and proposals for further releases.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Dr.Tushar A. Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.


http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=50542

A Grain Of Good Sense
Legislating against hunger is a great idea that needs expansion





JEAN DREZE




| E-MAIL | ONE PAGE FORMAT | FEEDBACK: SEND - READ |



The budget reiterates the government’s commitment to a National Food Security Act, known as the ‘right to food’ law. In principle, this is welcome. Our undernutrition levels are among the worst in the world and have barely improved in recent years. Such a law could help focus the nation’s energies on this burning issue.
In India, hunger and malnutrition have deep roots, not only in economic insecurity but also lack of education, gender inequality, social discrimination, skewed property rights and lack of basic amenities. Serious commitment to the right to food would call for action on all these fronts.







Broadened to address the many factors contributing to hunger, the proposed Right to Food Act can be a solid complement to the NREGS.






The proposed act is unlikely to provide a blanket solution but could make a big difference if it takes a broad view of the problem.
It’s especially important not to conflate the proposed act with the Congress promise of 25 kg of grain every month at Rs 3 a kilo for BPL families. Indeed,



this happens to be little more than a repackaging of the current BPL entitlements, with less quantity at a lower price. Further, good nutrition depends not only on access to cheap grain but also on other inputs, such as good food, childcare, clean water and breastfeeding support. A serious right to food law should ensure these needs are also addressed.
The NREGS is already a step towards the right to food. However, its implementation is erratic and the principle of "work on demand" is nowhere near being realised. Some families are unable to participate in it because of ill health or old age. This is why the right to food law must include the provision of cheap grain under the PDS beyond the timid promise of "25 kg at Rs 3 per kilo". The current quota of 35 kg per month should not be reduced; ideally, the PDS should be universal in order to avoid the inevitable exclusion errors of any targeted system. But if we go for a targeted system, the selection of BPL families should be transparent and verifiable. And it must cover, say, at least 50 per cent of the population. Some marginalised groups, such as SC/ST families in rural areas, should have BPL cards as a matter of right.
Second, special PDS entitlements are required for the most vulnerable families, including those in which no adult member is able to participate in the labour market. Such entitlements already exist for some such families under the Antyodaya Ann Yojana programme. This programme should be expanded under the proposed act. Another form of social assistance that works relatively well is that of cash pensions—like old age pensions and widow pensions. This is a natural complement to food-based assistance under the Antyodaya programme. An integrated pension programme could form a third pillar of the proposed act.
A fourth crucial component is direct nutritional support for children. Schoolgoing children are already entitled to nutritious mid-day meals under recent orders of the SC; these entitlements should be consolidated under the proposed act, along with provisions for school health services.
Similarly, for younger children, SC orders relating to the ICDS should be incorporated in the right to food law. Under these orders, all children under six years are entitled to all basic ICDS services—nutrition, healthcare and pre-school education. In fact, the SC directed the government to ensure that this happens by December 2008. The finance minister’s statement that the ICDS would be universalised by 2012 is a step backward in this respect. Whatever the budget may have in store for the "aam admi", it’s a damp squib for "aam bacche".
This is a minimum list of interventions that need to be included in the law if it has to have a serious impact on India’s "nutritional emergency". Other provisions to consider are maternity entitlements, breastfeeding support, rehabilitation of severely malnourished children and community kitchens in urban areas.These entitlements must be backed by adequate funds and strong grievance redressal systems. Perhaps this is a tall order. But India has already set an outstanding example of bold social legislation with the NREGS—it can be done again with the right to food act.
________________________________________
(The writer is a development economist.)

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20090720&fname=JCol+Jean&sid=1

Protection to Traditional and Customary Rights and Interests of Fisherman

Report of Draft Coastal Management Zone submitted to Moef today


________________________________________
15:15 IST
The fishermen and their families will be protected and this will cover about 10 million people. Elaborating Ministry’s stand after accepting the Report on the Expert Committee on the Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) Notification from Dr. M S Swaminathan here today, Minister of State for Environment and Forests(I/C), Shri Jairam Ramesh said that the Ministry has accepted the recommendation of the Committee and CMZ 2008 Notification, 2008 lapses on 22nd of this month. The Ministry will have a special protection regime for critically vulnerable coastal areas like Sunderbans and Chilka lake and of new management regimes in Andaman and Nicobar as well as Lakshadweep islands will be introduced.

The Minister also announced constitution of National Coastal Zone Management Board which will be chaired by minister of Environment and Forests and co-chaired by the Minister of Earth Sciences. Replying to queries from media, Shri Ramesh informed that the city like Mumbai will have special dispensation and window of opportunity is open only for government financed housing societies for weaker sections and not for any other construction. The ministry is also thinking on the line of Fisherman Rights Act. Assessment of cumulative impacts of developments of ports also will be carried out, he added.

The Committee has found in its deliberations that there are a number of areas of concern in coastal areas that need to be addressed. Due to the limited time at its disposal, the Committee has outlined these issues in its report, so that necessary follow-up actions can be taken. The Committee suggests that the government should initiate consolations and amend the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 1991 based on the outcome.

Addressing the media Dr M S Swaminathan said that the committee studied the views expressed by a wide range of stake holders both in writing and orally at the 35 consultations held all over the country. They also had discussions with central and state governments, representatives from Mumbai Metropolitan Representatives, fisherman and women. He suggested to keep the CRZ Notification 1991 as the basic framework. He also recommended to make amendments as per new challenges arising from climate change. Shri Vijai Sharma,Secretary, Ministry of Environment nad Forests informed that more than 10,000 views have been accepted by the ministry.

The committee is clear that the Indian coast is doubly vulnerable today. On one hand. it is facing unprecedented pressures because of industrial and urban development; on the other, it will be threatened by climate change –related devastation - from growing intensities of cyclonic storms to sea surges and eventual sea level rise. All this requires increased attention and vigilance for the protection of the coasts and the people who live there. It is also clear that coastal areas are the habitats of fishing communities. These communities are in double danger as well-ironically, from conservation on one hand and development on the other. Future policies for coastal area management must reverse these trends and find approaches to conserve and protect vulnerable ecosystems and secure the livelihoods and habitats of its people. This is the challenge.

Recommendation for TOR 1is ‘let the CMZ Notification, 2008 lapse and incorporate amendments as recommended in the existing CRZ Notification, 1991 for better coastal management’

Recommendation for TOR 2 is an agenda for coastal areas which are: • Check violations to CRZ through improved space technology-enabled enforcement, strengthened institutions, and regulatory and legal reforms

• Enhance protection to fishing communities and families for habitat and livelihood security through amendments in the CRZ Notification.

• Resolve issues regarding the development and redevelopment of Mumbai, based on locale-specific amendments.

• Introduce regulations to manage the proliferations of ports along the coasts with possible impacts on the coastline by considering cumulative impacts of these developments .

• Introduce tighter standards for disposal of effluents into coastal waters so that these waters do not become cheaper alternatives to inland pollution management.

• introduce new management regimes in the Andaman and Nicobar as well as Lakshadweep Islands after deliberation and discussion.

• Introduce any new protection regime-such as critically vulnerable coastal areas- after careful and deliberate understanding of the impacts of conservation policies on local communities, particularly fisher families .

• Strengthen protection to mangroves based on clear definitions.

• Include the seaward side to ensure protection from current and future threats, but with safeguards to ensure there is no restriction to livelihoods of fishing communities .

• Introduce measures to greatly strengthen research and regulatory capacity at all levels .

• Introduce policies to cope with and adapt to the future dangers form sea level rise and increased vulnerability of the coasts.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) constituted a four-member committee under the Chairmanship of Management Zone(CMZ) Notification, 2008 on June 15,2009 to recommend future steps on the Draft Coastal management Zone(CMZ) Notification,2008.Other members of Committee were Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of Earth and Science; Mr. J.M Mauskar, Additional Secretary , Ministry of Environment and Forests; and Ms Sunita Narain, Director, Centre for Science and Environment.The committee was given the following Terms of Reference(TOR):

• To examine the comments received by the Ministry on the draft Coastal Management Zone Notification, 2008,and

• To advise on the policy and legal framework for Integrated Coastal Zones Management .

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=50523