23-07-09

Mining – India 1
1. To deliver 6000 MW by 2010, says Vedanta's Anil Agarwal 1
2. GSI headquarters not to be shifted: Mines Ministry 5
3. JSW scouting for partner to fund cement operations 5
4. Fire on NH-33 6
5. Grasim Industries fined for illegal mining activity 7
6. Reddy brothers block survey, flout eco norms for mining 8
Mining – International 9
7. Rain hinders efforts to rescue 23 miners in China 9
8. Safford mine increases work force 9
9. Chinalco in Talks on New Australian Mine Investment 10
10. Wuhan leads in acquiring oversea iron ore resources 11
11. Judge OKs GM's move to drop Montana mine contract 11
Other News 12
12. Govt promoting bio-fuel 12
13. Forest policies have a political agenda: Expert 13
14. Alternative employment for tribals 14
15. Constitution of JFMCs and joint ventures for conservation of forests 18
16. PENDING CASES OF ENVIRONMENT CLEARANCE 20
17. World Bank assistance to Forestry Projects 20

Mining – India

To deliver 6000 MW by 2010, says Vedanta's Anil Agarwal


Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta Resources, expects commodity markets to remain flat for another 12-18 months. After this, he expects the market to recover.
On divestment, Agarwal feels all state iron companies that are running losses should be privatised. "There should be a mandate to sell these companies within 90-120 days." He believes the government needs to bring in autonomy in public sector companies like Nalco, Coal India, and SAIL. "Our public sector managers are phenomenal. They need independence, a breath of fresh air."
According to him, Vedanta will pay about Rs 7,000-8,000 crore to buyback the stakes that the government has in Hindustan Zinc and Balco. The company, he added, has also set aside USD 2 billion to acquire mining blocks.
Agarwal is bullish on power. "After NTPC, we produce 2,000 MW. We are going to deliver 6,000 MW by next year. Our goal is to produce 11,000 MW."
Here is a verbatim transcript of Anil Agarwal’s comments on CNBC-TV18. Also see the accompanying video.
Q: Let me start by asking you what your outlook right now is on the global economic environment and therefore also on the commodity markets?
A: The prices have come off almost or more than 50% because demand has gone down for sure. The market is flat at this point in time. But the mining assets, natural resource assets are scarce. They are not easy to come by. In times to come, the way China, India and some of the underdeveloped countries like Africa are coming up, so a lot will be needed to build.
So, I am very hopeful that things will change. But to answer your question, the market looks flat to me. Going forward, I feel that another year to a year and a half this will be the situation. And then market will definitely recover.
Q: Many companies in the course of the last one year, as the global economy collapsed, rethought their positioning in the world, reassessed where they stood and sort of realigned themselves to the fact that the kind of unprecedented global boom we have seen in the last five-seven years is unlikely to repeat itself in the next five-seven years? What is your take on what the next five or seven years will bring to Vedanta in terms of fortunes, how you hope to align your company in terms of growth for the next five to seven years?
A: Things are changing rapidly. We are a new generation company. We think different. We are lean and thin. We are easily replaceable because we are the lowest cost producer as far as my company is concerned. We will be producing the lowest cost.
I always say that everybody is going to die but I am going to die last because we are the lowest cost producer. This is the position that I take as far as we are concerned. In five years, I believe that demand will grow. Price of copper was USD 9,000 per tonne, which came off to USD 5,000 per tonne. I believe copper prices should be around USD 4,500 per tonne. Aluminium was USD 3,500 and today it is about USD 1,600 per tonne. I believe that USD 1500-1600 is the price. Zinc was around USD 3000-3500 and today it is at USD 1500 per tonne.
40% of the mining companies have shut their mines because it is not viable to produce. In that situation, we come in. We produce at the lowest cost. Our equipments, mining methods today are different and we are the winners.
Q: I am sure you like many others in corporate India and all our business leaders were very enthused by the mandate that this new government has gotten because it finally gives us a stable government for the next five years. One of the key issues that this government needs to take up on a priority basis is disinvestment, as much to be able to bridge the fiscal deficit gap, as to be able to privatise many of India’s government owned companies, make them more efficient and modern and capable of competing on their own? You are the disinvestment guru in this country. You need to tell me what the investment is of this government’s plan because we hear different things every day. When they first came to power, there was considerable expectation that they would be very aggressive with their disinvestment policy. How do you look at this entire process, the way it has been articulated by this government?
A: India is an amazing country, which has tremendous resource in terms of natural resources, in terms of agriculture resources, in terms of human resources. It has to be put in together. I think the government is determined to do that. If you look at the example of Balco and Hindustan Zinc, which we took over, when we took over, these companies used to produce 100,000 tonne of aluminium and 1.60 lakh tonne of zinc respectively.
We have not changed the top management. They are still driving the company. The same people and the same mines are producing 10 lakh tonne of zinc today. It is almost 8-9 times the amount. From 1 lakh tonne of aluminium that we were producing, we are going to produce 25 lakh tonne. You can imagine the kind of potential our government companies have like Coal India. China imports coal, bauxite, and iron ore. They are the largest producers of these metals. We have all the raw material. I really believe public sector companies like Nalco, Coal India, or SAIL have to bring in autonomy. Our public sector managers are phenomenal. They need independence, a breath of fresh air.
Also, all the state iron companies that are running losses should be privatised. We have Bharat Gold Mines. I can only talk about companies that I am looking at. All these companies that are making a loss, in a simple manner there should be a mandate, within 90-120 days they will sell these companies.
Continued on next page ... _PAGEBREAK_
Q: But they have made it very clear that they are going to retain at least a 51% stake, which means that they are giving 49%. At 49% how many business leaders like you would want to come in and invest large amounts of money when you don’t have control? I understand the call you are making for autonomy, privatisation, but in your conversations with this government, what is the sense you are getting about how far they are willing to go with this disinvestment process?
A: Some of the companies that are loss making, I am sure private people will look at it. I cannot identify one or two. I am sometimes in favour that giving 49% stake maybe the right thing, sometimes it is very difficult digest to give a large asset to a private company in a nation like ours because there is a tremendous social responsibility.
Our public sector managers are very good and once you give them a position they will deliver. Also, if we look at even new projects, the kind of investment that we can get. Wherever the project happens, why can’t we make the collector as the business development manager, because why can’t he take all the decisions? Once you decide the policy that these are the policies to start an industry, the collector himself can take all the decisions and allow the industry to come under his shadow because the local population is there, he has to buy land and give it to the industry, which is coming up. Those things are happening in India and I am sure it is going to take place.
Q: But would investors like you be interested in all these kinds of alternatives? Do you think that this disinvestment process if the government retains 51% in its assets or companies would interest investors like you who want to take these things and turn them into valuable assets?
A: In India, nothing has happened. These assets are only 10%, 90% new assets have to be built. When you say 8% growth etc., I am looking at USD 2 billion or 1.5 billion projects, 100 projects across India coming up, whether it is a bridge, or mine, or metal production or automobiles or textile. That is how I am looking at it.
Of course, disinvestment is important. But once you open up the entire country because the existing asset that we have it can only be 10%. New assets, we need huge assets to build.
Q: Which ones of the companies would you be interested in either as a strategic investor or even simply as an investor?
A: We will be more interested of course when the company comes for disinvestment. We will look at it. There are some beautiful iron ore companies. There are beautiful aluminium and copper companies, Hindustan Copper. They are manifold. I haven’t looked at all. When those companies come up, we will look at it and put the right value.
Q: But you are very clear that you are not a strategic investor and if it is not 51% with management control, you are not interested?
A: We are not investors. We run the company, we drive the company.
Q: The government still has residual stakes in both Hindustan Zinc and Balco. By when do you hope you will be able to buy back those residual stakes and what is the outgo likely to be on behalf of the group to be able to purchase them, what is the timeline?
A: We are gearing up for this. We know that we have to buy this residual share. We believe this year we will move forward. I am just estimating, it should be around Rs 7,000-8,000 crore, which is quite a chunk we have to cough up for getting the residual share from them.
Q: So, you will pay a total in the region of Rs 7,000-8,000 crore to buy back the stakes that the government has in Hindustan Zinc and Balco?
A: Yes.
Q: And by the end of the year you are hoping that this transaction would be completed?
A: Yes, or before that. This is a simple transaction. We have to be ready with the money. We are gearing up and we are getting ready to move forward in that direction.
Continued on next page ... _PAGEBREAK_
Q: When the IFCI process was underway and now that gotten stymied as well, you had expressed interest in IFCI. Through disinvestment or otherwise, are there any other businesses currently, or business opportunities that interest you outside of the space of metals, or businesses that look exciting to you in the next 5-7 years?
A: We are very fortunate that we are a FTSE 100 company. Vedanta being an Indian name, listed on London Stock Exchange as a FTSE 100 company. We are also the first manufacturing company to be listed in the New York Stock Exchange. When we talk of any large opportunities coming in India, we will look at it. We are not ready to invest because we are very focused on our strength on the metal area.
We don’t consume this metal. We have to supply to the industry. We have 5,000 industries that consume our material. We are just diverting but looking forward. The metal that we produce, we have brought the mining industry on the world map, should be processed in India. Hundreds of new medium scale and small scale industry can come and they can process this metal. And when these companies come up, we thought for them to hedge this metal, for them to open LCs, to maintain their treasuries, we can have a financial vehicle.
Q: So, that was the rationale with which you approached IFCI? But that transaction didn’t work out?
A: Yes.
Q: Are you looking at any other assets actively in the finance space to fulfil exactly the rationale that you just told me about?
A: We are looking to develop something on our own because that is the right thing at this point in time to develop a vehicle that can cater to our customer demands.
Q: So, financial services is one area that interests you, it has some commonality for you?
A: Yes, for us.
Q: Is there anything else that may be allied to the businesses that you already do or completely different that interests you right now and makes you feel as if this is where I should deploy my cash because you have considerable cash on your books?
A: We are very bullish on power because as you know after NTPC we are producing 2,000 megawatts of power. We are going to deliver, by next year, 6,000 megawatts in operation, of which people are not aware of. Our goal is to produce 11,000 megawatts. We have enough funds to develop that. We are running power plants and so we have enough manpower to operate those.
Also, all these power plants are coming by and large on brownfields. So, we have no problem at this point at all of acquiring the land or the water or other facilities. So, we are developing within our brownfield. We are focused, we are very happy that we are getting into this field because to produce metal, we need power.
Q: So, power is definitely one focused area of business along with all the metals where you have well defined the capacity expansions you want to do over the years? Are there any new businesses that are outside of financial services that interest you?
A: We will stick ourselves to natural resources, power, within that infrastructure, whatever is required we will build.
Q: Let me come to the one acquisition currently, which is underway and which we are hoping to see more positive news on in that sense, which is Asarco. How far away are you of being able to bag this transaction? I understand by the end of this year, you should have Asarco signed and done?
A: This is one of the largest companies producing copper in the US. This was set up by John Rockefeller and it is a very prestigious company. We have to have patience. We are the highest bidder for this company. The bankruptcy court running the process will make sure there is a proper hearing. We believe that we are in the best position because we have the support of all the creditors. Also, the US government is backing us to acquire this asset.
Q: But isn’t Grupo Mexico’s bid a couple of hundred million dollars higher than you?
A: That is not in real terms. In one-to-one terms they still prefer to support us. But we are very confident that this is going in the right direction. But we are going to overbid anybody. If somebody comes and overbids us hugely, then that is fine and we will let it go that way. But so far as you have seen in the past, whatever asset we have taken over, we have been very focused that the price should be right and our credibility must be there.
We believe that it is the same situation with Asarco and that it is going in the right direction. We have to have some patience. I believe that in the next month is the final hearing and we will get some conclusion on that.
Continued on next page ... _PAGEBREAK_
Q: With what degree of confidence can you say that Asarco will belong to Vedanta by the end of this year?
A: It is not in our hands. Bankruptcy court has to take a decision. The process is on and the process is very healthy. The union, the government and all the creditors are involved. So, everybody is supporting us. We believe that we are going to go through with this.
Q: So you have a pretty high degree of confidence that you will be able to bag Asarco by the end of this year?
A: I think so.
Q: How will that change the face of your group in that sense?
A: It will be fantastic. We will be the second or third largest producer of copper. We will be the largest producer of aluminium. We are looking to be the third largest producer of iron ore. We are looking to be the largest producer of zinc. So, it will be phenomenal.
Q: Currently how much cash would you have on your books that is free of any allocation because you have successfully allocated much of that USD 6 billion I am told to existing expansions, Brownfield, Greenfield, otherwise? How much is free and where do you hope to deploy? Will it be more mining assets across the world?
A: I wish they are available. We are sitting on USD 6 billion cash and USD 2.5-3 billion sitting with Hindustan Zinc. So, we are looking to acquire new assets if any. We are also looking at some of the new projects as you know to increase our capacity. We need some money for Asarco. So, we are looking at these things but we are not in a hurry. We will do it at the right time. It is very important to win the confidence of our shareholders. Every time we have gone they have made money from us. When we started our issue of Rs 8 crore, till today whenever we have gone in the market, they have given us support.
I must tell you that in the last four or five years, we have raised almost USD 8 billion. That kind of money to arrange and bringing back to India and deploying is not an easy task. We would like to preserve the cash that we have for the right opportunity.
Q: Are you going to be in the market for more mining opportunities? If you are, what is the war chest that you are going to be working with? Where do you see the opportunities for this?
A: We are definitely looking at Africa for sure. That is a resource rich area. India, as and when the government simplifies the process, it is very important that the government of India simplifies the process. If they simplify the process we will deploy huge funds in these assets.
Q: So, in buying mining blocks?
A: Mining blocks. Our ultimate objective is to create huge capacities in India, which has tremendous potential.
Q: What is the kind of war chest that you are putting aside to be able to carry out these acquisitions? What are values looking like to you across the world right now?
A: We are thinking, on the upper side about USD 2 billion to invest to buy these assets.
Q: Will you also be interested in some of the mining companies in India if they are available for sale?
A: There are not much available. But as and when something is available we will definitely look at it. In India, earlier the government thought of privatizing Nalco. We have given our expression of interest. But that was one of the parts. The government has to take a view on what they want to do.
Q: You’d still be interested in Nalco if they privatise it?
A: Of course. Not me alone, there will be 10 other people to buy or take a view on Nalco.
Q: So is that what you are saving your money for, opportunities like that?
A: Sure. As and when opportunities come that is what our shareholders are looking forward to.


http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/advertisingmarketing/to-deliver-6000-mw-by-2010-says-vedantas-anil-agarwal/407468

GSI headquarters not to be shifted: Mines Ministry
New Delhi (PTI) The Mines Ministry on Wednesday said the headquarters of the Geological Survey of India will not be shifted out of Kolkata.
"The Ministry of Mines has stated that there is no move to shift the headquarters of Geological Survey of India (GSI) to any other location," the ministry said in an official statement.
Speculations were rife that the ministry is contemplating shifting the head office of the mapping and surveying agency to New Delhi, a step which would have led to mass movement of its employees from the present base.
"Kolkata is part of GSI's history and GSI is a part of Kolkata's heritage. There is also no move to dilute the importance and authority of the head office of GSI at Kolkata," it said.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200907221776.htm

JSW scouting for partner to fund cement operations


Mumbai: The Sajjan Jindal group is seeking to cut its exposure to the cement business through a stake sale in its cement-making subsidiary, a senior official of the listed holding company Jindal South West Holdings Ltd, or JSW Holdings Ltd, said in an interview.
The group’s cement firm JSW Cement Ltd is a fully-owned subsidiary of the holding company and has plans to set up 30 million tonnes (mt) of cement capacity at an initial cost of Rs3,000 crore. India’s total cement capacity is currently above 200 mt a year.
Focused: Sajjan Jindal. JSW Cement, a company of the group he heads, says it is not keen to put ‘too much’ money into cement manufacture. Indranil Bhoumik / Mint
“We do not want to invest too much money in cement and are looking for a partner,” J.K. Tandon, JSW’s director (projects) said. He did not disclose the stake that will be offered to the partner.
JSW Holdings has started the process of finding a partner. Among other group firms, JSW Steel Ltd is the operating company that owns steel plants with a capacity of 7.8 mt.
JSW Cement planned to manufacture 30 mt of cement even as the group completes its 30 mt steel expansion and builds 5,200MW of power plants over the next few years with an investment of nearly Rs40,000 crore.
However, the firm’s cement plans hit a roadblock after financial markets collapsed in September, leading to a severe credit crunch. “We found no investor appetite for new projects like ours,” Tandon, who built JSW’s first 1.8 mt steel plant at Vijaynagar, said.
“The company’s plans to build cement plants had slowed down due to our inability to raise money to fund these projects as (the) credit squeeze (happened) following the subprime crisis in the US, even as the company had placed orders for cement plant equipment with Germany’s KHD Humboldt Wedag International Ltd. The lenders, led by Industrial Development Bank of India, had sanctioned Rs1,950 crore and we were unable to raise equity.”
In 2005, JSW Holdings, which earns most of its revenues from steel, had announced plans to build aluminium plants in West Bengal, cement plants in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and power plants in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The cement plants were to be built near its existing cement plants in Vijaynagar (Karnataka), West Bengal and Jharkhand, and adjacent to the coal-based power plants. The grinding units are to be built near its limestone mines in Andhra Pradesh. The total investment earmarked was nearly Rs3,000 crore.
On Monday, JSW Steel reported 55% rise in net profit to Rs340.02 crore for the quarter ended June, against Rs219.35 crore in the same period last year. Sales jumped 4% to Rs4,158 crore, from Rs3,983.79 crore in the same period. The net profit for the year ended March was Rs459 crore and gross turnover was Rs15,179 crore.
Following the economic slowdown late last year, Tandon said the firm slowed its plant construction work and has only completed about 30% of its civil construction work, worth about Rs600 crore. Mumbai-based Petron Civil Engineering Pvt. Ltd is the civil contractor and Holtec Consulting Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of Holcim Ltd, is providing technical advice on building cement plants. From a workforce of 1,200, only 300 workers are on site now, he said.
“We saw revival signs in May-June,” Tandon said, adding that one of the benefits of the slowdown has been the revision of project costs as the prices of cement, steel and electrical equipment have fallen. “This has saved us nearly Rs300 crore.”
The Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, led by industrialist Anil Ambani, has also announced plans to build 20 mt cement capacity in India from flyash sourced from its power plants in the country. Reliance Cementation Pvt. Ltd will invest Rs10,000 crore to set up plants in India to build capacity, Ambani said at Reliance Infrastructure Ltd’s annual shareholders’ meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Reliance Cementation is a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure.
Cement and steel companies are expanding capacity to meet anticipated demand from government spending on infrastructure projects.
The capacity additions come with a danger that there will be more supply than demand and hence pressure on profit margins. Fitch Ratings India in its January report titled Building Materials and Construction, India Special Report, had said demand and supply have been in balance with high capacity utilization over the past two years in India.
The authors—Himanshu Nayyar and Priyamvada Balaji—said the pace of capacity expansion is expected to exceed demand growth over the medium term, leading to lower capacity utilization, with the bulk of the impact being felt in calendar years 2009 and 2010 when utilization rates could potentially dip below 80%.

http://www.livemint.com/2009/07/22234453/JSW-scouting-for-partner-to-fu.html

Fire on NH-33
VISHWENDU JAIPURIAR & ARUN KUMAR THAKUR
Ramgarh/Ranchi, July 22: The wellbeing of the state’s lifeline, the Ranchi-Patna Highway (NH-33), is under threat near Kujju of Ramgarh where a fire erupting from the adjoining illegal mines has engulfed portions of the road.
Officials of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and district administration were struggling to put it out and had summoned a team of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to solve the crisis.
The NHAI team that reached the spot this afternoon was led by technical manager N.K. Pandey, who said they were trying douse the flames without halting traffic.
According to sources, fire had engulfed areas along Loha Gate of Kujju, which was 20km from the district headquarters. When it first started, the CCL management tried to combat the problem but failed. But, CCL (Kujju) general manager B.K. Singh said they would extend all help to NHAI to solve the problem. The PSU had already submitted a plan for a traffic diversion from Kujju, added CCL spokesperson M.N. Jha.
The mines that dot the area were all previously abandoned and sealed, but had been re-opened by coal and ore smugglers. Due to illegal mining, cracks developed within the surface walls allowing air to enter the mines and feed underground fires.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090723/jsp/jharkhand/story_11271589.jsp


Grasim Industries fined for illegal mining activity

BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar July 23, 2009, 0:31 IST

The Orissa government has taken action against Grasim Industries, a Aditya Birla group company, for illegal mining activities.It has fined the company Rs 2 lakh for resorting to prospecting through drilling at Khatkurbahal and Jauramunda under Rourkela mining circle before the execution of the prospecting license.

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However, the case was compounded on the basis of the written prayer of the offender, steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty said.
In a written reply to the state assembly Mohanty said, the Orissa government has taken action against four other mine lessees for resorting to mining beyond their leased area during last five years.
They are S N Das Mohapatra, S A Halim, B S Mishra and R B Das. He said, S N Das Mohapatra illegally raised minerals at Rudukela, Kolha, Rourkela, Bhunya mines area. When the government took action against the lessee and seized the minerals, he moved the Orissa High Court and filed a writ petition.
Following the High Court order, the lease area was demarcated under the supervision of a joint director of mines.
The quantity of fine manganese ore extracted from the lease area and from outside the lease area was also determined. Records, returns and the books of accounts are under scrutiny to determine the quantity of manganese ore lumps raised from outside the lease area.
Appropriate legal action will be taken after the process is over. Similarly, S A Halim was found to have illegally raised and disposed off 1951 tonne of iron ore.
A penalty of Rs 46,05,468 was imposed on him. The minister said, action was taken against R B Das for unauthorisedly working outside the lease hold area. About Rs 57,51,801 was collected towards the cost of minerals and penalty. The case was compounded under section 23C of MMDR Act, 1957.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/grasim-industries-fined-for-illegal-mining-activity/364605/

Reddy brothers block survey, flout eco norms for mining
23 Jul 2009, 0622 hrs IST, ET Bureau

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NEW DELHI: As the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) lock horns with the powerful mining lobby on the illegal mining activity on the

Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border, the Supreme Court is set to spell out on Thursday its stand on the mining sharks’ plea for a stay on survey of the controversial mining site.

The survey, ordered by MoEF in April this year and envisaging demarcation of mining leases on the ground by the Survey of India, was to be undertaken on July 20. But the legal wrangling over whether or not to conduct the survey, which the strong mining lobby led by the Reddy brothers of Bellary feared could bring out the naked truth of encroachment of vast tracts of land by them, landed the matter at the Supreme Court’s doorstep. The apex court is to hear the petition of the mining lobby opposing the survey here on Thursday.

According to those pitted against the powerful mining lobby, which include MoEF and other activists campaigning against encroachment of forest land on the Andhra-Karnataka boundary, the governments in both the states are not opposing the illegal mining as their ministers have wide business interests in the area. The anti-mining lobby alleges that the business association of powerful politicians with the Reddy brothers of Bellary has stalled any action against the illegal mining activity going on the Andhra-Karnataka border.

In Karnataka, too, the mining lobby has powerful representatives in the state government itself — Karnataka tourism minister G Janardhan Reddy and Mr G Karunakar Reddy. Mr Janardhan Reddy owns the Obalapuram Mining Company, which is accused of blasting a hilltop temple in the forest area. Obalapuram is the company that has approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Karnataka High Court order directing that a survey be conducted in the illegal mining areas.

Illegal mining continues to pose environmental and other hazards in the forests dotting the Andhra-Karnataka border. The reason, the other stakeholders allege, is that the ruling dispensation are owning and controlling the mines on the border district of Bellary. They complain that the state governments are not keeping any records as to the norms of mining and land between the states.

The illegal mining in the Bellary forest area has generated much heat in Andhra as well as Karnataka politics. The Karnataka chief minister had approached science and technology minister thrice in 2008 to seek a survey of the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border areas. Even a direction of the Karnataka high court to the effect was not complied with.

With tourism minister G Janardhan Reddy and revenue minister G Karunakar Reddy owning Obalapuram, one of the companies involved in illegal mining activity on the Andhra-Karnataka borders, sources allege that no officer from either of the states dared to prevent illegal mining.

It was only after the intervention of activists that the dispute reached the door of the Central empowered committee , which agreed with the MoEF’s decision to suspend the mining activities of 5 mining companies in Bellary forests by invoking the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. Such suspension was to continue till demarcation of mining leases on the ground by the Survey of India. Of course, the survey was never started, despite an undertaking by

MoEF in the apex court that the survey would be completed in six weeks. The powerful mining lobby ensured that the Survey never took off as it would have brought out the encroachment of forest land and illegal mining happening right under the nose of the state governments concerned . One of the mining companies owned by Bellary Reddy brothers of Karnataka approached the Supreme Court to stay the survey. The court is expected to hear the petition here on Thursday.

While the mining lobby wants to silently carry on with the encroachment of the forest land, MoEF has publicly declared that it would not allow any illegal mining activity in the forest area.




http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Reddy-brothers-block-survey-flout-eco-norms-for-mining-/articleshow/4809982.cms
Mining – International

Rain hinders efforts to rescue 23 miners in China
(AP) – 4 hours ago
BEIJING — Heavy rains hindered efforts to rescue 23 miners who became trapped early Thursday in flooding at a mine in northeastern China, a local authority said.
After a week of torrential storms, the Xinyongfeng Coal Mine in Heilongjiang province flooded around 2 a.m. (1800 GMT, 2 p.m. EDT), stranding 24 miners underground, according to Zhao Xinzhi, spokesman for the Jixi city Coal Mine Supervision Bureau.
Of the original 24 trapped miners, one escaped from the mine shaft, Zhao said.
He declined to give any details of rescue efforts and the conditions in which the miners were trapped.
Just over a week ago, three miners in southern China were rescued after spending 25 days in a flooded mine. They survived by drinking dirty water and chewing coal before rescuers burrowed through a collapsed tunnel to reach them.
China is home to the world's deadliest mines, where an average of 13 workers are killed every day.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.



Safford mine increases work force
By Diane Saunders
Staff Writer
Published on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 9:46 AM MST
Like a sputtering engine trying to restart, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. has increased its work force at the Dos Pobres mine near Safford.

“In June, employment at the Safford mine increased from 492 to 518 Freeport-McMoRan employees, and the number of contract employees rose from 25 to 31,” Freeport spokesman Richard Peterson said in an e-mail response to questions from the Courier.

Last November, Freeport laid off 59 Safford mine employees as part a larger layoff at many of its mines in Arizona and New Mexico.


In another wave of layoffs in February, Freeport laid off an additional 45 employees from the Safford mine.

The layoffs were in response to the faltering U.S. economy and a plunge in copper prices.

Today, the London Metals Exchange quoted a price of $2.452 per pound of copper for September delivery.

This is nearly a $1 per pound increase since December 2008 but still below the $3.20 per pound average recorded in 2007

http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2009/07/22/news/doc4a6649c38302d387436415.txt



Chinalco in Talks on New Australian Mine Investment

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By Jesse Riseborough
July 23 (Bloomberg) -- Aluminum Corp. of China, the state- controlled company whose $19.5 billion investment in Rio Tinto Group was rejected last month, held preliminary talks to invest in new mineral projects in Western Australia state.
Chinalco, as the company is known, will “conduct metals prospecting activities in Western Australia and seek investment opportunities either by independent investment or joint ventures,” Chairman Xiong Weiping said today at a conference in Beijing. “We’re only at the initial stages of talks.”
Xiong, who met with Western Australia state premier Colin Barnett yesterday, is seeking overseas investments as demand for raw materials surge in China, the world’s biggest user of metals. Tensions between China and Australia have been heightened with the detention of four Rio executives for allegedly stealing state secrets.
“There is just this insatiable appetite for commodities from China and OK, they’ve been rebuffed by Rio, but that doesn’t mean they are just going to go anywhere else,” Peter Arden, a resource analyst at Ord Minnett Ltd. in Melbourne, said today by phone. “They still really want to get product out of Australia.”
The collapse of the Rio-Chinalco deal was discussed at the meeting yesterday, Barnett said, without giving details.
“Despite what had occurred, there was still vast opportunity for both China and Western Australia to benefit from a strong relationship,” Barnett, who is visiting China this week, said in an e-mailed statement today. “There is a lot of scope for Chinalco to become more involved in projects, especially in new mineral exploration.”
Backlash
Rio Tinto last month rejected Chinalco’s investment in its mines amid a backlash among Australian politicians and shareholders. The London-based company instead said it will create an iron ore venture in Western Australia with rival BHP Billiton Ltd. to save costs.
Chinalco has denied any connection with the detention of Rio Tinto Group’s iron ore chief in China, Stern Hu, an Australian national, and three Chinese employees.
Barnett also met with Sinosteel Corp. officials and encouraged China’s largest iron ore trader to participate in the planned A$4 billion ($3.3 billion) Oakajee port and rail project in the mid-west region of the state, the statement said. The Oakajee port development is a venture between Mitsubishi Corp. and Murchison Metals Ltd.
“I made it known that the W.A. State Government would be supportive of Sinosteel increasing its share in other Mid-West companies,” he said.
--Xiao Yu in Beijing. Editors: Teo Chian Wei, Tan Hwee Ann.
To contact the reporters on this story: Jesse Riseborough in Melbourne atjriseborough@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: July 23, 2009 00:52 EDT

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aVYuWuKl7xEc#

Wuhan leads in acquiring oversea iron ore resources

Thursday, 23 Jul 2009
Beijing Business Today reported that Wuhan Iron & Steel Corp Ltd one of China’s largest steelmakers is leading the rivals in acquiring oversea iron ore resources.

WISCO signed a cooperation agreement with Australian Centrex Metals Ltd on July 20th in which CXM will issue 15% shares and offer a seat in its directorate to the steelmaker. According to the agreement, they agreed that the mill can acquire 60% of their cooperating mines in South Australia at unit price of AUD 0.18 per tonne so that the mill will pay a total amount of AUD 216 million.

Since the beginning of this year, WISCO has made amazing achievements in buying oversea iron ore mines. Early this year, the steelmaker was successfully authorized to explore a mine in Africa and then injected USD 240 million into Canadian Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Limited becoming the 1st largest shareholder of the miner and gained 25% shares, 50% ores of the miner’s mines in Bloom Lake area.

Till May, the mill signed framework agreement with Australian Western Plains Resources to be the 2nd largest shareholder and jointly invest a mine in South Australia. Before this, the mill had signed cooperate memo with Brazilian, referring to buy shares, iron ores and build a steelmaking company.

Mr Deng Qilin GM of the steelmaker said WISCO is heading to the internalization urging itself to strengthen the cooperation with oversea miners.

A source close to WISCO revealed that the steelmaker has a heavy dependence on imported iron ores and it tries to obtain the possession of iron ore mines to ensure the supply.

(Sourced from Beijing Business Today)
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/23/MTAzNDI1/Wuhan_leads_in_acquiring_oversea_iron_ore_resources.html

Judge OKs GM's move to drop Montana mine contract
By MATTHEW BROWN (AP) – 7 hours ago
BILLINGS, Mont. — A federal bankruptcy judge granted General Motors Co. permission Wednesday to cut ties with a Montana precious metals supplier so it can instead use cheaper foreign suppliers.
The cancellation of the Stillwater Mining Co. contract was approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber in New York following a hearing. No appeal was planned, said Stillwater spokesman John Beaudry. He said the only recourse could be through the Obama administration's auto task force, which so far has not responded to calls for pressure on GM's management.
Meanwhile, Montana's U.S. senators called the move "appalling" for a taxpayer-subsidized company and asked GM to reconsider.
GM backed out of its arrangement with Stillwater and canceled dozens of other contracts to slim down expenses and emerge from federal bankruptcy protection.
It will keep using precious metals suppliers based in Russia and South Africa — drawing criticism that the government bailout of the automaker is now effectively subsidizing overseas mining jobs.
Stillwater itself is majority owned by one of GM's remaining suppliers, Norilsk Nickel of Russia. Stillwater's Montana executives said they'll lose up to $10 million annually without GM — a figure they warned could turn into hundreds of jobs lost if metals prices drop.
"GM was left with no other decision," said GM spokesman Dan Flores. "Our biggest focus is to repay our federal loan as quickly as we can."
Montana's elected officials piled on.
"I can remember when GM wanted everyone to Buy American. Perhaps it and its new owners in Washington should take their own advice," said the state's sole House member, Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer said he had parked his Chevrolet pickup in protest until the matter is resolved.
The state's Democratic U.S. senators, Max Baucus and Jon Tester, asked GM CEO Fritz Henderson to restore the contract, but unlike Rehberg and Schweitzer steered clear of criticism of the Obama administration.
Executives for Stillwater — which dominates the economies of two Montana counties — say their operations are largely independent of Norilsk.
For the last decade, the company's two mines have supplied GM and other automakers with platinum and palladium used to make catalytic converters that filter pollutants from vehicle exhaust.
Stillwater argued in court that GM had to honor its sole domestic contract for those metals as the recipient of up to $50 billion in government loans.
The contract included a floor price requiring GM to often pay above market prices for Stillwater's metals. GM also had to buy certain volumes every year.
In exchange, the automaker was guaranteed a steady supply of materials and a discount if metals prices were high. But with fewer cars being made and cheaper metals available elsewhere, GM said the agreement no longer made sense.
Court fillings by Stillwater say the negotiations resulted in two amendments to the contract, last December and again in March. Stillwater Vice President John Stark said those were more favorable to GM and that a third amendment was nearing completion when the talks broke off abruptly and GM dropped the contract.
It's uncertain how the cancellation will play out for miners.
Columbus-based Stillwater employs more than 1,300 people and runs the only platinum and palladium mines in the United States, about 90 miles southwest of Billings in the Beartooth Mountains.
The GM contract accounted for about 12 percent of Stillwater's 2008 revenues. Stillwater has a contract roughly three times that size with Ford Motor Co., set to expire at the end of 2010.
The company already went through a round of layoffs, cutting about 300 workers after platinum and palladium prices plummeted.
Stillwater shares fell Wednesday by 19 cents, or 3 percent, to $6.16.
In May, it reported a first-quarter loss of $11.6 million on revenue of $85.8 million. That's down from a 2008 first-quarter profit of $2.8 million on revenue of $186.4 million.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hxwrRGuvnvkheCuTBa2bkqpZitfQD99JQ8HO1
Other News

Govt promoting bio-fuel

TNN 22 July 2009, 09:47pm IST
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MYSORE: In an effort to promote bio-fuel as an alternative to petroleum products, the government has identified 6,400 hectares of degraded land


in eastern districts of the state for planting bio-fuel saplings.

Chairman of the taskforce on biofuels Y B Ramakrishna told reporters that in Mysore district, the plantation will be done in 300 hectares. Next year, 1,000 saplings will be planted in 1,200 hectares in 25 gram panchayats.

Of 6,400 hectares, bio-fuel saplings will be planted in 3,100 hectares of the forest degraded land by involving 96 village forest committees (VFCS) under the National Rural Employment guarantee scheme (NREGA). The remaining 3,300 hectares of the waste lands will be covered by bio-fuel species with involvement of 52 VFCs under the special development projects envisaged by Dr Nanjundappa report. In all, there are plans to bring over 1,00,000 hectares under the project in three years, said Ramakrishna.

Apart from planting five different species, efforts are on to grow short-term oil seed crops like castor which can be grown as the second crop on farmers land which would bring them additional income, he said.
Now, KSRTC and BMTC are running 500 buses on bio-diesel. The number of buses will rise to 5,500 at the end of this year, said Ramakrishna.

To expand the the arena of training and research activities, an innovative bio-fuel park has been established at Madenur village in Hassan district. Many such parks are planned in other parts of the state involving villagers. Programmes like oil extraction at home and village levels will also help generate employment in rural areas, he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4808734.cms


Forest policies have a political agenda: Expert


Express News Service
First Published : 15 Jul 2009 02:35:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 15 Jul 2009 06:36:40 AM IST

CHENNAI: Forest conservation in the central Western Ghats of south India was shaped by colonial and post-colonial desires to create a modern, improved and ordered landscape primarily through promoting a plantation-based economy. In the process, forest dependent communities were marginalised.
This and a host of other new information came forth from a paper presented by Prof Ajit Menon, Associate Professor at Madras Institute of Development Studies on Territorialising Nature: Forest Conservation and Management in the Central Western Ghats of South India at MIDS.
He said the recent opposition in India to The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, had re-ignited debates about forest conservation.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Forest+policies+have+a+political+agenda:+Expert&artid=KMPi87HJp2M=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=rSY|6QYp3kQ=&SEO=

Alternative employment for tribals
Lok Sabha

Central assistance under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Schemes of ‘Project Tiger’ and ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’ is provided to States, including Tamil Nadu, for ecologically viable livelihood options to local stakeholders, in the peripheral / buffer areas towards reducing their dependency on forests with reciprocal commitments through Eco-Development Committees (EDCs). As reported by the State of Tamil Nadu, details of Sanctuary/Tiger Reserve-wise EDCs are at Annexure-I.
The funding assistance provided to States including Tamil Nadu under the above ongoing Centrally Sponsored Schemes, interalia, including support for EDCs, during the plan period are at Annexure-II (a) & Annexure-II (b). As reported by the State, 670 villages have been covered under EDCs in Tamil Nadu, and details of assistance provided are at Annexure-III. Independent Assessment of Tiger Reserves / Protected Areas is carried by the Government of India, apart from entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with States for tiger reserves, to monitor effective implementation, besides supervisory checks throughUtilisation Certificates in prescribed formats.
Annexure-I
Details of Eco-development Committees formed to develop alternative employment for tribalsand other people in protected areas including Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu:
Sl. No. Name of the Sanctuary / Tiger Reserve/ Biosphere Reserve No. of Eco-Development Committees formed

1. Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve 193
2. Anamalai Tiger Reserve 44
3. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve 10
4. Point Calimere Bird Sanctuary 15
5. Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary 7
6. Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary 4
7. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary 6
8. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve 252
9. Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary
33
10. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Nil
Annexure-II (a)
State-wise release during the current Plan period under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger
(Rs. in lakhs)
Sl. No. States 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
1 Andhra Pradesh 73.9175 56.9830 -
2 Arunachal Pradesh 110.2542 246.1710 167.357**
3 Assam 95.6140 1092.3790 -
4 Bihar 98.3205 49.6730 -
5 Chhattisgarh 35.2250 169.8700 -
6 Jharkhand 45.1600 115.3770 -
7 Karnataka 1159.7149 689.8390 -
8 Kerala 153.2449 267.0900 -
9 Madhya Pradesh 2975.9411 6998.5420 1544.054**
10 Maharashtra 295.7191 411.1250 -
11 Mizoram 82.9000 241.4500 -
12 Orissa 43.2800 625.9900 -
13 Rajasthan 410.6800 2708.9500 1713.838**
14 Tamil Nadu 45.0000 690.8060
15 Uttaranchal 202.0050 462.8500
16 U.P 134.8900 417.5130 113.30**
17 West Bengal 308.6741 228.3940 -
Total 6,270.5403 15,473.002 3538.549**

* Withheld due to non furnishing of MOU
** Revalidation of unspent balance
Annexure-II (b)
Details of fund released to State/UT Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats” during the current Plan period:-
(Rs. in lakhs)
Sl. No. Name of the State / UTs 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 (till 17th July, 2009)
1. Andaman & Nicobar Islands 82.86 73.48 85.91
2. Andhra Pradesh 168.06 92.378 -
3. Arunachal Pradesh 125.05 193.31 -
4. Assam 81.78 161.095 -
5. Bihar 4.00 37.558 -
6. Chhattisgarh 379.20 323.235 -
7. Dadra & Nagar Haveli 11.78 15.62 -
8. Goa 31.59 41.94 -
9. Gujarat 332.08 318.52 141.04
10. Haryana 70.03 86.02 -
11. Himachal Pradesh 233.32 241.983 138.97
12. Jammu & Kashmir 221.54 470.87 188.47
13. Jharkhand 98.13 99.753 -
14. Karnataka 630.64 625.1501 371.26
15. Kerala 493.57 864.96 299.66
16. Madhya Pradesh 800.92 613.34 -
17. Maharashtra 331.33 390.22 33.96
18. Manipur 105.89 100.095 -
19. Meghalaya 64.88 58.007 -
20. Mizoram 169.46 289.09 -
21. Nagaland 19.11 28.415 -
22. Orissa 357.08 576.88 -
23. Punjab 0.00 40.29 -
24. Rajasthan 347.24 414.58 334.25
25. Sikkim 159.22 187.73 111.94
26. Tamil Nadu 274.64 727.91 405.72
27. Tripura 36.00 00 -
28. Uttar Pradesh 332.36 307.173 -
29. Uttarakhand 76.67 216.09 -
30. West Bengal 356.22 345.78 -
31. Delhi 0.00 00 -
32. Daman & Diu 4.721 6.12 -
TOTAL 6399.36 7947.5921 2111.18
Annexure-III
Sl. No. Name of the Sanctuary / Tiger Reserve / Biosphere Reserve No. of villages Funds sanctioned (till last year under Schemes of Central and State Governments)
(Rs. in lakhs)
1. Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve 193 433.00
2. Anamalai Tiger Reserve 94 120.24
3. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve 10 13.85
4. Point Calimer Bird Sanctuary 15 46.50
5. Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary 7 3.50
6. Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary 4 4.00
7. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary 6 5.00
8. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve 252 500.00
9. Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary 33 44.63
10. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary 13 2.91
11. Karikili Bird Sanctuary 7 1.84
12. Pulicat Bird Sanctuary 8 4.75
13. Kanyakumari Bird Sanctuary 28 31.50
TOTAL 670 1211.72

Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh replied in a written question by Shri Varun Gandhi in Lok Sabha today.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=50801

Compensatory afforestation work in mining areas

STUDY ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT DUE TO EXCESSIVE MINING
________________________________________
16:32 IST
Lok Sabha

The diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes is permitted under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 after ensuring commensurate mitigative measures such as compensatory afforestation to reduce the adverse impact of the mining and other developmental activities on environment and ecology of the area. So far, 5,10,255 ha of the degraded forest land and 5,54,635 ha of non-forest land has been identified for raising compensatory afforestation in lieu of diversion of 11,83,472 ha of forest land for non-forest purposes.

Trees growing on the forest land diverted for mining and other purposes are sometimes felled, as per the necessity of the project. The State Forest Department of the concerned States/Union Territories maintains record of such felling of trees. No compensatory afforestation work could be undertaken in the state of Jharkhand and Orissa since 01.04.2007 due to non-authorization to adhoc CAMPA by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to release money to the States/UTs.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study and Environmental Management Plans (EMP), including for coal mining and thermal power projects, are prepared prior to grant of environmental clearance. These studies are not conducted on an annual basis.

Angul-Talcher in Orissa, Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, Korba in Chhattisgarh and Chandrapur in Maharashtra have critically polluted areas. A conglomeration of coal mining and thermal power plants exist in these areas. Environmental Action Plans have been prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for critically polluted areas. Project proponents are required to submit six-monthly reports to the Ministry of Environment and Forests on the compliance status of conditions stipulated in the environmental clearance letter. Inspections are also carried out on the status of compliance.

Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh replied in a written question by Shri Mansukh Bhai Vasava, Shri Yashbant N.S. Laguri and Dr. Charan Das Mahant in Lok Sabha today.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=50781

Constitution of JFMCs and joint ventures for conservation of forests
________________________________________
16:45 IST
Lok Sabha
The total number of Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), including the Van Panchayats of Uttarakhand, constituted in the country up to June 2008 is 1,13,049. The State-wise details are given in the Annexure-I. The number of JFMCs reported in Karnataka is 4849.
The JFMCs are constituted with the objective of involvement of local people in regeneration, protection and management of forests. The Resolution of the State Government on the Joint Forest Management prescribes the manner and the extent to which these Committees are to be involved in the Joint Forest Management. The Government of Karnataka order No. FEE-50 FAP-2000 dated 19-6-2002 envisages partnership of JFM Committees in planning, protection, conservation and development of degraded forest areas and other Government waste lands. The said order further envisages that JFM Committees shall play important role in enriching the forests by preventing encroachment, forest fires, illicit cutting, smuggling of forest produce, poaching of wild animals and regulating grazing and such other functions which are needed to develop forest resources. Accordingly, village micro-plans are prepared and JFM Committees are entrusted with the work of protection, management and development of jointly managed forests.
With the help of Joint Forest Management programme, in addition to providing protection to the forests against illicit felling, poaching, fires and encroachments, plantations have been raised in about 1.58 million ha. area through the JFMCs in the country. As reported, in Karnataka the Committee members are able to meet their requirements for fodder, fuel-wood, small timber and minor forest products. In addition, through JFMCs plantations havebeen raised in 2,20,599 ha.
As reported by the Government of Maharashtra, the State Forest Department and the Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) constituted under the Scheme “Gramasthanchya Sahabhagatoon Van-vyavasthapan” (i.e. management of forests with cooperation of villagers) work together as per the State Government’s resolution of 25th April, 2003. The general body of JFMCs consist of all adult and willing members of Gram Sabhasconstituted under the Mumbai Panchayati Raj Act, 1959. The Executive Committee of JFMC also has a representative from Village Gram Panchayat. The State Government of Maharashtra proposes following Schemes during the year 2009-10 to be implemented through JFM (Annexure-II)
Annexure-I

Joint Forest Management Committees

S.No. State Number of JFMCs
1 Andhra Pradesh 8498
2 Bihar 615
3 Chhatisgarh 7887
4 Gujarat 2578
5 Goa 15
6 Haryana 1831
7 Himachal Pradesh 1749
8 Jammu & Kashmir 4861
9 Jharkhand 10903
10 Karnataka 4849
11 Kerala 571
12 Madhya Pradesh 14428
13 Maharashtra 12473
14 Orissa 10647
15 Punjab 1378
16 Rajasthan 4882
17 Tamil Nadu 1140
18 Uttar Pradesh 2096
19 Uttarakhand
(Van Panchayat) 12089
(JFMCs) 1434
20 West Bengal 4192
21 Arunachal Pradesh 588
22 Assam 832
23 Manipur 709
24 Meghalaya 73
25 Mizoram 745
26 Nagaland 335
27 Sikkim 155
28 Tripura 472
29 Andaman & Nicobar Island 8
30 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 16
Total 113049
Annexure II
Schemes under JFM in Maharashtra, 2009-10
Sl. No. Name of Scheme Outlay (Rs. incrore)
1. Joint Forest Management Scheme (State) 12.06
2. Joint Forest Management Scheme (District) 3.98
3. Soil and Moisture Conservation (State JFM methodology based) 8.31
4. Akkalkuwa-Dhadgaon (Tribal Sub-plan) – JFM methodology based) 6.50
5. Integrated Forest Development Scheme (Tribal Sub Plan) – A new scheme proposed on JFM methodology) 20.00
Total 50.85
Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh replied in a written question by Dr. Mahesh Joshi, Shri Magunta SreenivasuluReddy, Shri K.C. Venugopal, Dr. Vinay Kumar Pandey ‘Vinnu’, Shri Ponnam Prabhakar and Shri Rayapati Sambasiva Rao in Lok Sabha today.

KP/DB

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=50787


PENDING CASES OF ENVIRONMENT CLEARANCE

Lok Sabha
A total of 223 projects awaited Environment Clearance as on 30th June 2009, a
table of State-wise and Project-wise break up is enclosed. (http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2009/jul/r2009072222.pdf)
The Environmental Impact Assessment Notification of September, 2006 provides
a time limit of 60 days for conveying Terms of Reference to the applicant on receipt of
application with all necessary documents. Further, a time limit of 105 days, after the
receipt of the complete application with all necessary documents, has been provided for
the appraisal and conveying the decision. To reduce the pendency of projects received for
environmental clearance, Ministry of Environment & forests has already made concerted
efforts in this regard, which inter-alia include, (i) Constitution of additional Expert
Appraisal Committees (EACs), (ii) Rationalisation of EACs for appraisal of integrated
projects, (iii) Organisation of longer duration meetings of EACs, (iv) Putting the
information relating to projects including agenda and minutes of the EAC meetings in
public domain on the redesigned web site of the Ministry.

http://pib.nic.in/release/press_rel.asp


World Bank assistance to Forestry Projects
________________________________________
16:53 IST
Lok Sabha

Forestry Projects have been funded only by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the country during the last three years. The details of forestry projects funded during the last three years, State-wise including Gujarat, their present status and objectives, cost of projects and duration of the projects including completion year are given at Annexure. All projects mentioned in the annexure are in different stages of implementation.
WORLD BANK ASSISTANCE TO FORESTRY PROJECTS
S. No Name of the Project Implementing Agency/ State Cost (in Rs.Crores) Funding Agency Objectives Project Period
1. Swan River Integrated Watershed Management Project Himachal Pradesh 162 JICA To regenerate the forests, protect the agricultural land, enhance agricultural and forestry production in the catchment area of the Swan River, by carrying out the integrated watershed management activities includingafforestation, civil works for soil and river management, soil protection and land reclamation, livelihood improvement activities, to improve living conditions of the people in the catchment area. 2006-07
To
2013-14
2. Orissa Forestry Sector Development Project Orissa 660 JICA To restore degraded forests and improve the income level of villagers by promoting sustainable forest management including JFM plantation, community/ tribal development, improving environment and poverty alleviation. 2006-07
To
2012-13

3. Gujarat Forestry Development Project
Phase II Gujarat 830 JICA
To restore degraded forests, improve livelihood and empower the local people who are dependent on forests, promoting sustainable forest management including JFM plantation, community/ tribal development, improving environment and poverty alleviation. 2007-08
To
2015-16
4. Tripura Forest Environmental and Poverty Alleviation Project Tripura 366 JICA
To restore degraded forests and improve the livelihood aspects of villagers, including tribal families engaged in traditional shifting cultivation, promoting sustainable forest management through JFM, improving environment and poverty alleviation. 2007-08
To
2014-15
5. Uttar Pradesh Participatory Forest Management and Poverty Alleviation Project Uttar Pradesh 575 JICA To restore degraded forests, improve livelihood and empower the local people who are dependent on forests by promoting sustainable forest management including JFM plantation, community development, improving environment and poverty alleviation. 2008-09
To
2015-16
Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh replied in a written question by Shri Ahir Vikrambhai Arjanbhai Maadam in Lok Sabha today.



http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=50796