Mining – India 1
1. Illegal mining probe exposes miner-official nexus to loot mineral reserves of Orissa 1
2. Take This Mine And Shove It: India Fights Coal, As Tribe Fights Mountaintop Removal 3
3. No nod for unloading: Truckers sit idle 4
4. ActionAid urges UK Council to prevent bauxite mining in Orissa 5
5. Cong wants CBI probe into mining scam 6
6. Rungta Mines plans Rs 600-cr cement unit in Orissa 6
7. Can Jairam Ramesh tackle the bull by its horns? 7
8. India's new mining royalties 9
9. Mining enforcement squad to be strengthened 10
10. Mining school board to take up IIT tag issue with Centre 10
11. Rebels kidnap 10 Hindalco men 11
12. Coal supply to NTPC-Kaniha hit due to local stir 13
13. Confusion reigns over Posco 13
Mining – International 14
14. PM asks bauxite mining industry to develop sustainably 14
15. Firm raises eyebrows with suggestion for nuclear powered mines 15
16. Mozambique reclaims abandoned BHP mining project 16
17. Canada’s Aurizon Mines eyes junior miners for growth 17
18. Most small mines in Shanxi in merger deals -Xinhua 18
Other News 19
19. Title trouble for tribals 19
20. View from the LEFT 20
21. Draft SEZ guidelines require developers to build low-cost houses 20
22. NREGA to Change the Face of Rural India 22
23. South Asian Countries meet on Sanitation 26
24. NGO bags WB grant for malnutrition project 26
Mining – India
Illegal mining probe exposes miner-official nexus to loot mineral reserves of Orissa
"As the issue of illegal mining created furore in the state assembly in the last session, state government had to instruct for a vigilance enquiry into the matter and punish if anybody is found guilty. But what has been astonishing to people of the state is that the whole illegal operation was carried out in the knowledge of government officials."
Basudev Mahapatra : August 19, 2009
Keonjhar, the hub of iron and manganese ore has become the paradise of mining loot raising questions over the policies formulated to guide the industrialisation drive pursued by Naveen Pattnaik Government during last 5 years. Investigations have also revealed a nexus between mining company owners and government officials behind the loot of ores.
A recent visit by a group of Orissa BJP leaders to verify the scale of illegal mineral ore siphoning revealed that companies have been into large scale opencast mining in Joda-Barbil area of Keonjhar in Orissa. Not only illegal mining, but also non-permissible deportation of ore outside Orissa has become rampant in the district, as revealed by preliminary investigation by the State Vigilance department.
As the issue of illegal mining created furore in the state assembly in the last session, state government had to instruct for a vigilance enquiry into the matter and punish if anybody is found guilty. But what has been astonishing to people of the state is that the whole illegal operation was carried out in the knowledge of government officials, confirmed the investigating officer and Orissa vigilance SP Debadatta Pattanaik.
Estimates made by experts showed, manganese ore worth Rs.110 Crore had been siphoned from the site by one Ram Bahadur Thakur Company that has only applied for mining lease but is yet to comply with lot of things to get the lease approved.
Former Union Steel Minister and now a senior BJP leader Braja Kishore Tripathy says that the estimate made by Orissa government agencies shows an amount much below the reality. As per the physical verification done by BJP leaders, the amount of ore that has been deported from the site would not be less than some thousand crores, said Mr. Tripathy.
At the time when Naveen Pattnaik is high sounding on promoting mining and mineral based industries in the state, large scale illegal mining in the district of Keonjhar has put a question mark on the transparency claims made by BJD government. As a proof of day light loot of ores, the investigation revealed that RBT had issued a power of attorney to SN Das Mahapatra & Co to pursue mining over the area, even without obtaining any formal licence or permission to excavate the ore.
The company was permitted to mine 200 MT for testing where as over 1806.72 MT manganese ore has been excavated and deported illegally. Even the armed guards deployed in the place by RBT have been allegedly carrying arms without licence or fake licence and terrorising local people objecting to such illegal practice by the company.
>>> Scroll down to read rest of the Story
Once a partner in the ruling coalition with BJD, BJP is now all set to raise the issue. After the issue was raised in the Assembly, government soon initiated an enquiry by the vigilance department which has found many mining officials, miners and forest department officials guilty and booked them. The chief functionary of Ram Bahadur Thakur Company (RBT) is still untraceable by the investigating department.
State vigilance department has charge sheeted against nine members and 8 including seven state government officials and one mine owners have been arrested and forwarded to jail.
The arrested persons include Madan Mohan Biswal, deputy director ( mines) Joda, Ganeswar Mohanty, joint director (mines), Dhirendra Kumar Mishra, joint director ( mines), Sasadhar Sahu, former deputy director ( mines), Joda and Routray Murmu, mining officer, Joda, Dillip Kumar Beura, forest range officer, Joda and Kamalakanta Pradhan, forest section officer, Guali. The state vigilance is readying to quiz the present director of mines, R N Sahoo. “The involvement of the present director of mines is indicated in the scam. The irregularities could not have happened without his knowledge”, said Anup Patnaik, director of vigilance.
With a vigilance enquiry, government of Orissa believes to have done its best when opposition parties demand a CBI probe apprehending the investigation to be biased to save the powerful key culprits.
Terming the vigilance probe into the multi-crore mining scam in Orissa as an "eyewash", BJP and opposition party Congress demand a CBI inquiry into the case. "We doubt impartiality of the vigilance probe as it comes under home department headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who himself was in-charge of the steel and mines department for some time in 2007-08", told BJP legislature party (BJPLP) leader K V Singhdeo.
Demanding an investigation by the CBI, Singhdeo, who had first raised the mining issue in the Assembly, claimed that the probe could never be impartial as vigilance officials were state government employees.
"An agency controlled by State government cannot be impartial in probing involvement of ministers and the chief minister, and even the speaker of Orissa Legislative Assembly (OLA) Pradip Kumar Amat who was the steel and mines minister for over a year”, said the BJP leader.
“But vigilance department is no way inferior or under-skilled in compare to the CBI and the department has been given enough autonomy to carry out investigation impartially”, said Vigilance SP Mr. Debadatta Pattanaik.
However, the irregularities done by RBT are just tip of the iceberg. Such illegal practice is rampant in the district and everyday hundreds of metric tonnes of iron and manganese ores have been smuggled out of district. If the practice goes on, the reserves would go empty without making any revenue for the state. So the investigation by Vigilance Department must trace the real culprits and stop further theft of ores. Otherwise the investigation would be another eyewash without any result as happened with Orissa state health system development project scam.
http://hotnhitnews.com/miner_official_nexus_into_illegal_mining_basudev_mahapatra_008_90036.htm
Take This Mine And Shove It: India Fights Coal, As Tribe Fights Mountaintop Removal
Last fall, Tom Zeller at the New York TimesGreen Inc. blog wrote an eye-opening piece on a possible Indian government and corporate venture in Appalachia's coal mines.
And as the Sierra Club's Carl Pope pointed out, an even bigger coal story took place this week in India. Members of parliament from various political parties in the eastern part of the state of Maharashtra put aside their differences and called on the Prime Minister to stop a coal mine in a forest reserve. The politicians declared: "Adani Power Ltd has been allocated 1,750 hectares of rich forest land having coal reserves at Lohara neat Tadoba. We are of the considered view, based on incontrovertible information, that operation of the proposed opencast coal mine will cause irreparable damage to the rich biodiversity in and around TATR and seriously endanger the very existence of the tiger."
For more information on India and coal, check here:
For Carl Pope's own dispatches from India this summer, go here:
Back in Appalachia: Over the past year, demanding a sustainable economy, green jobs and an end to the destruction of their mountain communities and watersheds, an uprising against government-sanctioned mountaintop removal mining in the Appalachian coalfields by residents and national environmental organizations has emerged as one of the most powerful social justice movements in the country.
A movement against a massive bauxite strip mine in the mountains of Orissa, in India, has now made international headlines. Last week in London, mountain villagers from the Dongria Kondh tribe converged on the British finance center to demand a halt to British mining company Vedanta's intent to destroy their sacred mountain and community.
Joining up with the international human rights organization, Survival, and best-selling author Arundhati Roy and various London celebrities, the Dongria Kondh have emerged as a fearless and inspiring example of local resistance against the hellbent ways of absentee mining companies.
Roy declared: "If Vedanta is allowed to go ahead with its plans for mining the Niyamgiri Hills for bauxite it will lead to the devastation of a whole ecosystem, and the destruction of not just the Dongria Kondh tribal community, but eventually all those whose livelihoods depend on that ecosystem."
With the blessing of the Indian Supreme Court, Vedanta plans to launch its own version of mountaintop removal on the Niyamgiri mountain, which the Dongria Kondh worship as their god. According to Survival: "The mine will destroy the forests on which the Dongria Kondh depend and wreck the lives of thousands of other Kondh tribal people living in the area."
The Dongria Kondh, though, aren't surrendering to the huge multinational company. Hardly. The mountain community has set up road blocks, organized human chains to stop the incoming bulldozers, and reached out to the international community to bring pressure on the British mining company.
The Survival organization has done a great job at debunking the mining company's bogus claims of jobs, environmental protection, community support or the even more despicable disregard for human habitation in the proposed blasting area.
Sound familiar? These are the talking points of Big Coal and its mountaintop removal campaign in Appalachia.
Here is a link to Survival's debunking of the corporate lies.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/take-this-mine-and-shove_b_262560.html
No nod for unloading: Truckers sit idle
Express News Service
First Published : 19 Aug 2009 03:30:00 AM IST
BHAWANIPATNA: Truck operators of Kalahandi, who are engaged in transportation of bauxite ore of Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) from railway heads to its refinery plant at Lanjigarh, are going without work as the VAL has failed to get permission from railways to unload bauxite in the stations located in Kalahandi.
To operate its refinery, VAL is importing bauxite and coal from outside by railway rakes. After the bauxite is unloaded, it is transported to plant site by hired trucks. In February 2007 VAL got permission to unload bauxite at Kesinga station.
However, to facilitate unloading of fertiliser and grains, railway authorities stopped bauxite unloading work at Kesinga in the fourth week of July.
Fresh permission is yet to be given to resume unloading. Similarly on September 2, 2008, VAL got approval for a period of six months to use Rupra road station for unloading bauxite. So accordingly it developed a railway siding, but by the time the siding work was over, the six months time had expired. Extension is yet to be granted despite repeated requests by VAL. In this situation, VAL is unloading bauxite in Dahikhal station in Rayagada district.
Against the requirement of 15,000 tonnes per day, only about 5,000 tonnes are now being handled there. In such a situation it is becoming difficult to get required quantity of bauxite to run the plant, said chief operating officer of VAL Mukesh Kumar.
Due to this development, more than 150 truckers affiliated to Kalahandi Truck Owners’ Association and labourers engaged in loading and unloading have turned idle. The association in a memorandum to VAL and Collector has demanded an early solution to the problem. General secretary of Bhawanipatna branch of Kalahandi Truck Owners’ Association Artabhanjan Chand said during discussion with VAL on August 10, head of commerce Rajesh Mohata promised in writing that if unloading permission is granted by the railways, VAL will unload 20-30 rakes at Kesinga/ Rupra road station.
The problems of VAL do not end there. The Green Kalahandi outfit of MP Bhakta Charan Das and his close associates are strongly opposing all activities of VAL. They are also protesting unloading of bauxite in stations in Kalahandi by VAL saying it causes pollution. Green Kalahandi and anti-VAL activists staged a demonstration at Rupra road on July 13 demanding a bar on unloading of bauxite there and submitted a memorandum to railways. Countering it one Yuva Sramik Sangh staged a demonstration and rail roko on August 1 demanding permission for unloading of bauxite at Rupra Road in the interest of labourers.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=No+nod+for+unloading:+Truckers+sit+idle&artid=sscuOBJYOwE=&SectionID=mvKkT3vj5ZA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=nUFeEOBkuKw=&SEO=
ActionAid urges UK Council to prevent bauxite mining in Orissa
By Agencies
Last updated: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:24:31 GMT
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Bhubaneswar ( Orissa ) : The Leicestershire County Council has been urged to put pressure on mining major Vedanta Resources to stop a major project to mine bauxite from the Nyamgiri mountain in Orissa, PTI reports.
The council has invested 2.3 million pound (rpt) 2.3 million pound in the company owned by the Indian-origin entrepreneur Anil Aggarwal.
In July, there were protests in London during the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) on grounds that mining bauxite would threaten the ecologically sensitive Nyamgiri mountain, which is a sacred site for the Kondh tribe.
According to Action Aid, a campaign group that coordinated the protests, has urged the council to act to ensure that the company drops its plans to create an open-pit mine Meredith Alexander, Action Aid's head of trade, said.
"Shareholders including Leicestershire County Council are investing in a mine that will destroy a community's way of life and irreversibly damage a unique environment.
http://www.odishatoday.com/orissa_2/ActionAid_urges_UK_Council_to_prevent_bauxite_180809-576546876876665453452.html
Cong wants CBI probe into mining scam
Rajaram Satapathy , TNN 18 August 2009, 10:50pm IST
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BHUBANESWAR: Incredible though it sounds, the Congress on Tuesday warned the Centre that any move by it to soft pedal the Orissa mining scam
would not be tolerated.
"We are impatient. This is a question of Orissa's interest. We will take on the Centre, if there is any attempt felt here about the scam not being probed seriously or hushed up," party leader Narasingha Mishra flanked by PCC president K P Singhdeo and others told the media.
They said they had earlier met Union mines minister B K Handique and apprised him of the scam, its ramification and the suspected involvement of politicians of the Naveen Patnaik government and others.
The meeting, in which Union minister Srikanta Jena and party MP and former minister Bhakta Charan Das were present, the Congress leaders demanded Handique to initiate investigation into the scam by the CBI. "The mines minister had expressed surprise over the scam and promised to first institute an administrative inquiry," the party leaders said.
Since there has been no tangible step taken, the party on Monday has shot a letter to the minister reminding him of his assurance, Mishra said. "We are sorry to say that no visible step has been taken at your end to inquire into the matter and take appropriate step," the letter observed.
The Congress reaction came amid speculation that though the Naveen Patnaik government had been pushed to the corner over the mining scam, the BJD leadership has managed to win over the Central Congress leaders not to goad the issue and in the process silence their state counterparts. The state Congress leaders, however, insisted that they could not be cowed by any authority on the matter. "We won't sit silently. PCC president has already met Congress leaders in New Delhi and discussed the issue," Mishra said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/bhubaneswar/Cong-wants-CBI-probe-into-mining-scam/articleshow/4908015.cms
Rungta Mines plans Rs 600-cr cement unit in Orissa
19 Aug 2009, 0042 hrs IST, Pramugdha Mamgain, ET Bureau
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NEW DELHI: Iron ore mining firm Rungta Mines (RML), the flagship company of SR Rungta group, plans to set up a one-million-tonne cement plant in
Orissa with an investment of around Rs 600 crore, a top company executive said. The move, proposed to be funded through a mix of debt and internal accruals, would diversify the business of the group beyond mining and steel production.
“The cement project is currently in the evaluation stage and, if finalised, will be established in Orissa,” said Siddharth Rungta, president of privately-held Rungta Mines. He added in the short term, the company would continue to focus on mining and steel business.
RML is in talks with the state government for allocation of limestone reserves to execute the cement project. Limestone is a key input in cement and every tonne of cement making requires 1.5 tonne of the raw material.
The company is also in the process of setting up two steel plants, one each in Orissa and Jharkhand. The annual steel producing capacity of plants in Orissa and Jharkhand will be 2-million tonne and 0.5-million tonne, respectively. Besides, both locations will have a 40-mw captive power plant.
“Production of sponge iron has partially begun at both locations, which will be used to make long steel products. We expect both plants to become fully operational in the next 3-4 years,” Mr Rungta said. Long steel products are mainly used for construction.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Indl-Goods-Svs/Rungta-Mines-plans-Rs-600-cr-cement-unit-in-Orissa/articleshow/4908398.cms
Can Jairam Ramesh tackle the bull by its horns?
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Winds of change are sweeping across the dusty corridors of the once quiet Ministry of Environment and Forests. For ten years this Ministry has been with the DMK - but election 2009 changed it all. Now speculation is rife on whether the environment will be better protected in the hands of a Congress minister? Can minister Jairam Ramesh bring back the golden period in India's environmental history when Indira Gandhi with one phone call could halt a dam being constructed in Silent Valley, or where the first family took pride and personal interest in saving India 's big cats.
But the Congress of the 80's is very different from the Congress of 2009, in which minister Jairam Ramesh has been given the green mandate. In order to maintain a growth rate of 8-9% it is India's forests, mineral and water resources that are facing an unprecedented onslaught. And in recent years the MoEF has earned the dubious record of being the 'Ministry of Environment and Forest Clearance'. In a short span of 2004 to 2006 India lost over 25000 sq km. of dense forest to industrial and development projects. A ministry which is supposed to be the watchdog of a natural treasury of 67 million hectares of forest and over 15,000 species of wild plants and animals has been clearing projects with virtually little or no opposition.
Shaking a ministry after years of lethargy will be the biggest challenge for the new minister. And shaking his own legacy even bigger. The minister belongs to the school of liberalisation and economic reforms. The same reforms, which may have put India on the super economic highway but with losses, that are unaccounted for. Coal mines in tiger reserves and elephant habitats, roads bifurcating national parks and mega dams submerging prime tropical forests worth millions of dollars. India's forests and those who live close to them are perhaps paying the heaviest price for the nation's progress as a superpower. Little wonder then that when Jairam Ramesh, took over the environment ministry, the green lobby has been sceptical about his commitment to the green cause.
But the minister has taken his new role seriously. Since he has taken over he has called for a review of several projects, initiated a number of policy announcements, visits to institutions like the Wildlife Institute, interacting with scientists, and synergising the work of thirty tiger reserves across the country. He is also a minister with new ideas. Plans are now afoot to introduce the National Green Tribunal, a single judicial body to decide on all matters relating to the environment. With this, the functioning of two existing bodies - the National Environment Appellate Authority and the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court could be impacted. While the dissolution of the former is good, the latter may not be.
The National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) -- the only judicial body in the country to hear grievances against environment clearance process -- has the dubious record of dismissing all but one petition in the last 12 years. According to an RTI filed by Delhi-based environment lawyer Ritwick Dutta - no site visits have been made by any members of the NEAA except to places of religious interest -- Shirdi and Varanasi. And none of these religious trips had anything to do with the cases being heard by the NEAA.
In contrast the other quasi-judicial body, which may also become a victim of the National Green Tribunal is the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court, which looks into all matters related to diversion of forests for non-forest activities. With a motley group of forest officers and bureaucrats this is perhaps the only body that has taken its role of a watchdog of India's forests very seriously -- sometimes much to the chagrin of state governments and mining companies. Will the CEC too be dissolved once the National Green Tribunal is set up? It is perhaps this body that the Minister may need to save - if he is serious about his role of protecting India's forests.
Trouble for the new minister may arise from traditionally unknown quarters -- his own government. A case in point - the Niyamgiri hills, Orissa, where India's most controversial and long drawn-out environment battle is being fought by hundreds of indigenous tribals. Plans are afoot to chop down the rich tropical forests of the Niyamgiri hills - for the Vedanta bauxite-mining project. Here too, murky dealings are on. In letters accessed through an RTI - it is clear that pressure came from the highest office in the country - the PMO to the Ministry in 2008, on the status of forest clearance that was pending with the MoEF. And herein lies the scam - since the project is being developed in a Fifth Schedule Area - land acquisition can only be undertaken by the State. In this case the land will be handed over once acquired by state to a private company, which is Vedanta. Is it ethical for the state to be putting pressure on its own ministry on behalf of a private agency? The same state, which should as per the constitution be upholding the rights of the people. Now in 2009 will there be pressure on Ramesh too, to make sure that the process is expedited? And when pressure comes from his own Prime Ministers Office to dispense with infrastructure projects on forestland will he be able to continue his role as a watchdog of India's forests?
The second likely source of conflict will be state governments particularly those where the BJP is in power - Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa - states with huge mining resources as well as forests. In 2005, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh wrote a letter to MoEF asking for declaration of forest in Korba as an elephant reserve to reduce human-elephant conflict. Three months later, a letter is written by the Confederation of Indian Industry - requesting for area not to be declared as elephant reserve as the area has huge coal deposits which could be detrimental to industrial interests. Never mind that the same area has had 20 elephant deaths as the elephants compete for space with humans with their forests gone. A far-sighted CM who wanted to protect the elephants has been silenced by commercial interest. What will the MoEF do in such cases? Support the CII or the BJP CM?
These and other such contentious issues are what Ramesh will need to bite into - as he visits national parks and sanctuaries and poses for pictures on an elephant in Corbett.
In the meanwhile, India's green activists can take heart that in the lofty corridors of power they finally have access to a minister who is articulate, English-speaking much like the urban elite from which India's environment movement is drawn. Perhaps herein lies Ramesh's strength. He is a minister who is accessible and responsive. In the days to come can this Minister take the much-needed tough decisions which may sometime make him unpopular with his own government and put a clear moratorium on infrastructure projects coming up on elephant corridors and vital tiger habitats? Jairam Ramesh has his work cut out. And the greens have much hope from the new minister.
(The article first appeared in Hindustan Times edition dated August 19, 2009)
http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/bahardutt/258/53761/can-jairam-ramesh-tackle-the-bull-by-its-horns.html
India's new mining royalties
Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:47pm IST
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MUMBAI (Reuters) - The government has introduced new mining royalties for 50 minerals, which took effect from Aug. 13, a statement on the Mines Ministry website showed on Tuesday.
Following are the new royalties for some of the key minerals:
BAUXITE: 0.5 percent of London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price on ores for use in alumina and aluminium; 25 percent of sale price on ad valorem basis for others.
COAL: Same as before.
COPPER: 4.2 percent of LME copper price on the copper contained in ore.
GOLD: 2 percent of London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) on gold contained in ore; 3 percent of LBMA on gold obtained as by product.
IRON ORE (lumps, fines, concentrates): 10 percent of sale price on ad valorem basis.
LEAD: 7 percent of LME lead price on lead contained in the ore.
NICKEL: 0.12 per cent of LME nickel price on the nickel contained in the ore. SILVER: 5 percent of LME silver price on the silver contained in the ore; 7 percent of LME on silver obtained as by product.
ZINC: 8 percent of LME zinc price on zinc contained in ore.
http://in.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idINIndia-41825120090818?sp=true
Mining enforcement squad to be strengthened
BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar August 19, 2009, 0:06 IST
The Orissa government has decided to strengthen the enforcement squad to check activities in the mining and mineral sector. The state finance department today approved a proposal of the steel and mines department for making appointment to 21 new posts for this purpose.
With this, the finance department has so far approved appointment to 36 posts which was required for strengthening the enforcement for checking the illegal mining activities, sources said. The approved posts include one inspector of police, one ranger (forest), two Habildars, 16 constables and one sub-inspector. This is expected to facilitate deployment of two additional police sections in the state level enforcement squad.
The state level enforcement squads have been mandated to prevent illegal mining, transportation, storage and theft of mineral resources in the mining areas of the state, sources added.
Meanwhile, the printing of transit passbooks in Orissa Government Press (OGP), Cuttack, has started and the stock of transit books needed for a week has already been supplied to the steel and mines department. More weigh bridges are planned to be set up in important mining areas to check illegal transport of minerals. The finance department also approved proposals of the Panchayatiraj department for continuance of the service of 136 Additional Block Development Officer (ADBO). Since the workload under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) has increased manifold, the continuance of the posts of ABDO had become necessary. Similarly, 314 posts of Gram Panchayat Officer (GPO) or Progressive Assistants (PAs), which were abolished earlier, will be revived.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mining-enforcement-squad-to-be-strengthened/367403/
Mining school board to take up IIT tag issue with Centre
Law Kumar Mishra, TNN 18 August 2009, 09:41pm IST
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DHANBAD: The governing board of the Indian School of Mines (ISM) here on Tuesday agreed to the demands of the students and teachers to upgrade
ISM to that of an IIT.
The decision was taken after over 2,500 students of themining school boycotted classes and went on a wildcat strike earlier in the day over the issue. Their teachers also joined in the demonstrations.
The chairman of the governing council, P K Laheri, asked the ISM director to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) within three months and that would be sent to the Union ministry of human resources. The council even passed a resolution, recommending an IIT status for ISM.
Earlier in the day, the ISM Teachers Association passed a resolution at an emergency meeting, asking the Centre to declare ISM an IIT. "The teachers support the students' demands and unanimously resolved that ISM should be declared an IIT since it fulfilled all terms and conditions required to become an IIT. ISM is a recognised institution of excellence and has a brilliant academic history of serving the nation for the last 80 years," said Pramod Pathak of the School of Management.
Student representatives, Nishant Kohli and Devdeep Roy Chaudhury, both in their fourth year, were allowed to place their demands with the governing board.
The students said admission to ISM since 1998 was being held from the list of successful candidates, who cleared the joint entrance exam for IITs. With the number of IITs going up to 15 from six, the brilliant students among the successful candidates opted for IIT. Even the teachers were quitting ISM for IITs, they claimed.
According to the students, the quality of the new candidates seeking admission to ISM has gone down. Same for the teachers. So, to sustain the competitive edge, ISM should be converted to an IIT immediately, they said.
Arguing that ISM had all the infrastructure required to claim the status of an IIT and also since the state had no IIT, the students claimed that ISM deserved to be upgraded to an IIT.
The students and teachers also decided to meet the Governor and ask him to send a separate recommendation to the Centre, seekimng IIT tag for ISM.
Both students and their teachers later agreed to resume classes from Wednesday.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/ranchi/Mining-school-board-to-take-up-IIT-tag-issue-with-Centre/articleshow/4907738.cms
Rebels kidnap 10 Hindalco men
AMIT GUPTA
Hindalco mines in Kujam
Ranchi, Aug. 18: Suspected guerrillas of a breakaway CPI(Maoist) faction have kidnapped 10 employees, including an engineer, of Hindalco Industries Limited from the company’s Kujam mines area in the extremist stronghold of Bishunpur block in Gumla district.
A squad of 20-30 armed rebels descended on the bauxite reserve on Netarhat-Kujam road yesterday morning and whisked away mining engineer Vijay Kumar, a resident of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, three supervisors, five contractors and a driver.
Almost 12 hours later, around 9pm, they returned to torch as many as 12 heavy equipment and vehicles on the mine premises.
South Chhotanagpur deputy inspector-general (DIG) R.K. Mallick, who is camping in Bishunpur block, said that though the CPI(Maoist) was not involved in the abduction, it could be the handiwork of some new rebel faction, which was trying to make its presence felt in the area.
“We have learnt that the Hindalco employees are safe and are trying to locate them,” he added.
Gumla deputy commissioner Rahul Sharma, too, suspected the involvement of a breakaway Maoist faction. “We are very close to finding out where the rebels are keeping the Hindalco men. Some employees called up their family members to say they were still safe. We will mount pressure on the rebel group to ensure their safe release,” Sharma said.
The senior police officers are not ruling out a possible demand for levy from the company behind the abduction.
Hindalco vice-president (mines) K.K. Dave said engineer Kumar and supervisors Md Shahjada, K.P. Singh and Devendra Kumar, who are on the company’s payroll, were travelling in two jeeps along with five hired contractors.
“They were intercepted on Netarhat-Kujam road around 9am yesterday. The kidnap took place before the rebels barged into the mine premises and torched nine dumpers, two water tankers and an excavator. Earlier, they had also set fire to the vehicles carrying our men,” he said.
Dave, who heads the Lohardaga mines division, pegged losses at Rs 2.5 crore. “We have no idea where our employees are. We have informed our headquarters in Mumbai and awaiting instructions,” he said.
Hindalco Industries Limited, the flagship Aditya Birla Group company, has been a victim of extremism in Gumla-Lohardaga for quite some time. In May this year, mining operations were closed for more than 20 days following a rebel levy diktat.
In the 2008-09 fiscal, the company has remained open for only 200 days in the wake of CPI(Maoist)-sponsored violence.
At least five other breakaway factions are also giving company officials nervous nights. The most prominent being one led by Sanjay Yadav, who once owed allegiance to the CPI(Maoist).
Bauxite from Hindalco’s Lohardaga and Gumla mines is ferried to its integrated plants in Renukoot, Uttar Pradesh, which has a metal production capacity of 3.5 lakh tonnes, and Muri, Jharkhand, that produces 5 lakh tonnes.
Such is the fear of Maoists that owners refuse to ply their vehicles on the route at night. This despite the fact that a school to train combat forces is being commissioned in Netarhat in neighbouring Latehar district.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090819/jsp/frontpage/story_11378923.jsp
Coal supply to NTPC-Kaniha hit due to local stir
BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Angul August 19, 2009, 0:01 IST
The coal supply to the public sector National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Kaniha was hit for eight hours today following stoppage of mining activities at linked Lingagraj mine at Talcher due to agitation by Talcher Surakhya Manch (TSM).
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The outfit had given a call for one day strike in protest against the non-filling of sand at Champapasi underground mine in Lingaraj mines area after coal extraction.
The work on coal mine was stopped from 6 AM in the morning to 3 PM in the afternoon due to strike. The dispatch of coal to NTPC from the mine’s site was also affected. The loss of production was about 15000 tonne due to stir, said a company official.
It may be noted, the locals under the banner of TSM have resorted to agitation as the required sand filling in the Champapasi underground mines was not done. According to Keshab Bhutia, the coordinator and ex-chairman of Talcher municipality, the entire 50000 town population are facing danger to their lives due to vacuum created underground due to mining of coal and area may cave in any time.
Meanwhile, a meeting has been convened by the local sub collector Nirmal Mishra to resolve various contentious issues in the area. The meeting will be chaired by the district collector, Angul.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/coal-supply-to-ntpc-kaniha-hit-due-to-local-stir/367400/
Confusion reigns over Posco
Sampad Mahapatra and Nisha Poddar
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 (Bhubaneswar)
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Posco, the Korean steel major has had its fair share of troubles ever since it announced plans to set up shop in Orissa.
The company had plans to set up a 12 million metric ton steel plant at an investmentof $12 billion in Orissa, but India’s most contentious political hot potato—land—continues to stymie its plans.
Posco, which had some time back reduced its operations to bare minimum in Orissa seems to be again facing trouble due to local opposition.
On Tuesday, the Union Minister for Mines and the state government could be seen speaking in different voices on Posco, threatening to pull out if they are not given alternate piece of land.
Clearly, troubles for one of the largest foreign direct investors in India never seem to end. Local opposition has been the biggest hurdle for the South Korean steel giant, which has been trying to set up its project since 2005.
Reports suggest that Posco is asking the government to give them an alternative plot of land to build the steel plant.
Mines Minister BK Handique said, "Posco is shifting to another plot of land due to ongoing tussle over land issue."
However, the Orissa state government and Posco management were quick to dismiss any plans to shift to another location.
The company maintains that they are committed to set up 12 million tonnes steel plant at an investment of $12 billion in Orissa and that the local opposition to the project has gone down drastically.
Ashok Dalwai, commissioner cum secretary of steel and mines in the Orissa government, said, "This is not true. I have discussed with the MD of Posco India on Tuesday and he has clarified that the project is moving neither out of the present location nor out of Orissa. They are committed to putting up the plant in Orissa at the site located."
Meanwhile, Posco is not signalling any change in plans, but in the past they had faced opposition from the locals at Dhinkia village and had contemplated leaving out that village from their plan and move more towards the south.
Now, the ball is in the government's court and they can either choose to give a peaceful piece of land or let the huge FDI slip out of their hands.
http://profit.ndtv.com/2009/08/18211724/Confusion-reigns-over-Posco.html
Mining – International
PM asks bauxite mining industry to develop sustainably
The Lam Dong bauxite mining project must ensure its economic effectiveness, environmental protection and sustainable development for the Central Highlands, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during a fact-finding trip to the project in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong on August 18.
The project, invested in by the Vietnam Coal-Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin), aims to extract more than 4.3 million tonnes of bauxite per year during the first phase. The project boasts a plant that can sort 1.6 million tonnes of ore annually and a processing plant that can produce 650,000 tonnes of aluminium per year.
When inspecting the construction site, PM Dung requested the investor and the contractors to ensure the planned pace of construction and to put the plants into operation on schedule.
The PM highlighted that Vietnam possesses bauxite reserves estimated at around 5.5 billion tonnes, mainly located in the Central Highlands and that the mining of this mineral will bring great profits to the country.
He said that since 2005, the government has permitted the relevant agencies to work together to tap this natural resource, which is the country’s first project involving bauxite mining and the aluminium industry.
The PM lauded the Lam Dong authorities for smoothing the way for site clearance and provision of settlements for those who had to relocate.
http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/PM-asks-bauxite-mining-industry-to-develop-sustainably/20098/106996.vov
Firm raises eyebrows with suggestion for nuclear powered mines
BY LYNN MOORE, MONTREAL GAZETTEAUGUST 18, 2009
MONTREAL — A mining exploration company figures small nuclear reactors for electric-power generating stations would be ideal for remote operations such as its project in the James Bay region of Quebec.
Western Troy Capital Resources Inc. says a team of advisors is now considering an array of reactor designs suitable for such use and it has initiated contact with the regulatory community.
The venture took root about a year ago when the company was looking at power options for its molybdenum and copper project at MacLeod Lake, CEO Rex Loesby said.
The property is located in boreal wilderness more than 500 kilometres north of Quebec City.
"When we looked at this (option), we said, 'Gee, why aren't people doing this in Canada?' It seems like an obvious thing to do," Loesby recalled.
Remote sites now rely heavily on fossil fuels and generators, he said. Western Troy would replace those power sources with reactors that could generate about five to 20 megawatts of power, Loesby said from his Toronto office.
"These little ones, even if you don't get the economies of scale (gained from building a 1,000 MW nuclear power plant), if something goes wrong, it doesn't wipe out half a city," said Loesby, adding that remote mining sites are not located near cities.
Environmental groups are not so enamoured with the idea.
The idea of nuclear reactors at mine sites "is mad," Jamie Kneen, MiningWatch Canada's communications and outreach co-ordinator, said. "I can't see how it is going to get through the regulatory process."
The notion is "suspect for a number of reasons" including issues surrounding disposal of radioactive waste, said Dale Marshall, climate policy analyst for the David Suzuki Foundation.
"A significant number of mining proponents are saying that climate change is already affecting their operations, specially infrastructure on mines," said Marshall.
"Probably the last thing we want to do is have a whole lot more nuclear reactors being impacted by those climatic events and potentially leading to accidents in those power facilities."
The idea of using nuclear reactors to power the extraction industry is not new, said Paul Stothart, the Mining Association of Canada's vice-president of economic affairs, said in an email.
"For example, there has been considerable discussion in the (Alberta) oilsands where reactors could be used to provide power and heat and hence significantly reduce the amount of fossil fuel used in the . . . production process," he wrote.
While it is "conceivable" that small nuclear reactors in remote regions would offer environmental advantages by reducing fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions, "this technology would presumably raise questions regarding community acceptance, site location and permitting, management of waste . . . etc.," Stothart said.
Glenn Harvel, an associate professor of nuclear science at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, is among the advisors working with Western Troy. While still in its preliminary stage, the project presents "an exciting opportunity for Canada," he said.
There are hurdles to overcome "but it is feasible," he added. A key challenge is "finding the right vendor and then getting everyone in the licensing process to agree that this is a worthwhile thing to do," Harvel said.
While potential vendors — all foreign — have said they could provide a suitable reactor for between $25 million to $75 million, no firm quotes have yet been sought.
Montreal Gazette
http://www.canada.com/technology/Firm+raises+eyebrows+with+suggestion+nuclear+powered+mines/1906151/story.html
Mozambique reclaims abandoned BHP mining project
Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:17am EDT
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MAPUTO, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Mozambique has reclaimed ownership of the Chibuto heavy sands project after global miner BHP Billion (BHP.AX)(BLT.L) abandoned it because it was not viable, a cabinet statement said.
BHP, which holds the exploration rights for the $500 million project until October 2009, envisaged an integrated open-cut mining, concentration and smelting operation at Chibuto to produce titania slag and iron, as well as rutile and zircon.
But BHP decided the project was not viable at this time and stopped the project at the pre-feasibility stage.
The Chibuto heavy sands project is situated in Gaza province 190 km north of Maputo.
"The decree declares that Corridor sands project revert to the state after its investors have failed to proceed with the heavy sands project in Chibuto," the statement said.
The government said recent studies carried out at the concession showed the mineral sands were of excellent quality.
The Chibuto mines are said to have one of the world's largest known heavy-mineral sand ilmenite resource, used to produce titania slag, high-purity pig iron, rutile and zircon.
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLJ57312320090819
Canada’s Aurizon Mines eyes junior miners for growth
Ashutosh Joshi, Reuters Published: Tuesday, August 18, 2009
BANGALORE -- Gold producer Aurizon Mines Ltd expects to maintain strong profit margins this year on the back of rising yellow metal prices and is looking to acquire struggling junior miners to expand its operations in North America, its chief executive said.
"In terms of area, our focus is North America, primarily Canada and in terms of size, we are looking at something that can actually produce up to 100,000 ounces (of gold), with a sort of 10 years mine life projected," Chief Executive David Hall said in an interview with Reuters.
Despite the precious metals industry witnessing a large number of takeovers and rising gold prices, many small-sized producers are still finding it difficult to access funds from the capital markets, he said.
Gold continues to attract strong investment interest, amid a tepid recovery in the global economic situation, Mr. Hall said.
Operating profit margin growth has been strong at the miner over the past one year, mainly driven by higher gold prices and lower costs related to labor and consumables, such as chemicals and reagents used by gold companies.
Operating profit margin per ounce at Aurizon rose 15% to US$511 for the six months ended June 30.
"On one hand, we got reducing cost and on the other we have rising price of the metal we produce. The industry is in very healthy status today," the CEO said.
Spot gold XAU, that hit its two-month high of US$971.25 an ounce earlier in the month, was bid at US$938.65 an ounce Tuesday afternoon.
Shares of the Vancouver, British Columbia-based company, which owns Casa Berardi mine in Quebec, were up 22 Canadian cents at $4.67 Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
© Thomson Reuters 2009
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http://www.financialpost.com/news-sectors/story.html?id=1905243
Most small mines in Shanxi in merger deals -Xinhua
Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:37am EDT
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SHANGHAI, Aug 19 (Reuters) - More than 70 percent of over 2,000 small mines in China's top coal province Shanxi have agreed with bigger mines on merger, as industry consolidation pushes forward, the Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.
Shanxi's provincial government expected all mines to sign merger deals by the month-end, while construction to expand these mines would start in September, the official news agency said.
Although China has called for coal industry consolidation for years, many small mines have survived the power struggle between Beijing, determined to improve mine safety, and local governments, whose fiscal revenues largely come from these mines.
But notoriously dangerous small mines have been blamed for the poor safety record in China's coal industry. Their inefficiency has added to Shanxi's environmental woes.
Shanxi's ambitious plan is to cut the number of its mines by 60 percent to 1,000 by 2011.
Coal mines need to have a minimal annual production capacity of 3 million tonnes, and individual shafts are required to have a minimal capacity of 900,000 tonnes a year, Xinhua quoted Shanxi's Governor Wang Jun as saying.
Currently, 80 percent of Shanxi's mines have an annual production capacity of 300,000 tonnes or lower. (Reporting by Rujun Shen and Jacqueline Wong)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSSHA12774020090819
Other News
Title trouble for tribals
Gyan Varma / DNA
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 2:22 IST
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New Delhi: There seems to be little progress in giving titles of forest land to tribals. Thousands of claims have been received, but 17 states and union territories are yet to disburse titles. Experts feel the states are intentionally delaying the process.
Of the 22.99 lakh claims the ministry of tribal affairs has received so far, a little over 30,200 titles have been given. Ministry officials said 1.54 lakh titles are ready, but states are not disbursing them.
"We have been sending reminders to state governments every month to expedite the process of title distribution, but there is no response. Implementation of the Forest Rights Act is a long process. It can't happen overnight," Girish Srivastava, director, ministry of tribal affairs, said.
"Seven states have started distributing titles. But bigger states, such as Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Orissa, UP, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Arunachal, have not begun the process yet," he said.
The ministry has received 3.29 lakh claims from Andhra, 2.45 lakh claims from Maharashtra, 4 lakh from Chhattisgarh, 3.66 lakh from Madhya Pradesh, 2.92 lakh from Orissa and 1.38 lakh claims from West Bengal.
NGOs working with tribals suspect the state governments are purposely delaying the process. "The records are fudged. State government officials have been demanding income certificates and other non-relevant documents from tribals. Instead of expediting the process, they are creating hurdles. The states are at fault. They have put wrong officers on the job," Father Xavier of Rajpipla Social Service Society said.
Xavier, who has been working for tribals in Gujarat, said, "There are several irregularities in land records. State government officers are hiding facts about encroachment on forest land."
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_title-trouble-for-tribals_1283524
View from the LEFT
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CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat engaged in a fraternal argument with Nobel laureate Amartya Sen in the latest issue of party mouthpiece People’s Democracy after the noted economist accused the Left of neglecting matters of social justice and focussing more on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Karat cited several interventions made by the Left parties in recent times on issues ranging from food security to PDS and NREGS, to the impact of WTO rules on agriculture and farmers and land rights to tribals, to need for greater allocation for health and education, to debunk Sen’s observations as “simply not true”.
The two major pieces of legislation adopted during UPA I — the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Scheduled Tribes and other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act — bear the hallmarks of the intervention by the Left in the changes brought about in their texts and the clauses that were amended, he said.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/View-from-the-LEFT/503794
Draft SEZ guidelines require developers to build low-cost houses
Asit Ranjan Mishra
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New Delhi: Developers of special economic zones (SEZs) may soon have to present a development plan for 20-25 years and ensure that at least 50% of the those employed in facilities inside these tax-free enclaves reside within them.
According to draft guidelines for the development of SEZs issued by the commerce ministry, developers would be required to use 10% of the nonprocessing area to build low-cost houses as per the National Urban Housing Policy, 2007; these houses are to be allotted to those employed in the zone.
SEZ developers have been asked to send in their comments on the draft guidelines by 15 September.
Self-contained? A file picture of a farmer working near an SEZ site in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. Harikrishna Katragadda / Mint
“Keeping in view the fact that a number of approved SEZs are at various stages of implementation and based on experience gained so far, formulation of certain broad guidelines to govern the development of SEZs has been considered appropriate to ensure environmentally sustainable, well-planned development of the SEZs,” the ministry said. The commerce ministry has recently also issued draft guidelines to make SEZs environment-friendly.
L.B. Singhal, director general of the Export Promotion Council of Export-oriented Units and SEZs (EPCES), said the draft guidelines do not intend to change the existing SEZ Act. “The new guidelines will serve as a benchmark for SEZ developers and provide guidance regarding facilities that need to be provided in SEZs.”
The ministry is yet to decide on whether to make these guidelines mandatory. “Once we receive the feedback from the developers, the commerce ministry will take a final view whether to make it mandatory or to keep the guidelines advisory in nature,” Singhal said.
EPCES had organized a meeting in New Delhi on Monday to discuss the proposed guidelines. Singhal said SEZ developers who attended the meeting were “appreciative” of the government’s move.
“This is a welcome initiative. This provides a uniform scale for all SEZ developers and clears the grey areas, which were earlier open to various interpretations,” said Sameer Bhatia, senior director and national leader, SEZ advisory practice, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. “The emphasis under the new guidelines is to make SEZs self-contained entities and dependent on resources within the zone.”
Bhatia, however, added that the proposed housing requirement makes more sense for multi-product SEZs. “Its viability for sector-specific SEZs may be examined,” Bhatia said.
India was among the first countries in Asia to recognize the effectiveness of export processing zones in promoting external trade; Asia’s first such zone was set up in Kandla, Gujarat, in 1965.
With a view to overcoming shortcomings seen in that format, an SEZ policy was announced in April 2000 and a comprehensive SEZ legislation was enacted June 2005, which came into effect on 10 February 2006.
The country’s tax-free enclaves have attracted foreign direct investment of at least Rs10,900 crore in the past three years, minister of state for commerce Jyotiraditya Scindia told the Rajya Sabha recently. In 2008-09, exports from such zones were worth Rs99,689 crore.
http://www.livemint.com/2009/08/18234128/Draft-SEZ-guidelines-require-d.html
NREGA to Change the Face of Rural India
________________________________________
15:35 IST
Back Grounder
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is poised to bring cheers to the lives of millions of rural poor with the inclusion of new works under its ambit and the convergence with other flagship programs. Efforts are on to bring in more transparency and accountability in it with district level ombudsmen being envisaged to ensure that the benefits reach out to the poor and the needy villagers.
The objective of the act is to provide to every rural household a guarantee of at least 100 days of employment during a financial year by providing unskilled manual work in rural areas to those members of the rural household who volunteer to do such work.
Launched on 2nd February, 2006 from the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh in 200 districts of the country NREGA, one of the flagship schemes of the Government has been expanded to coverall the 614 districts across the country. Since its inception the program has benefitted over 10crore rural households. It has provided employment opportunities to more than 4.479 crorehouseholds in 2008-09. It has also contributed to improvement in rural infrastructure.
The act envisages providing of 100 days employment to one member of each rural family residing below poverty line. Unique features of the Act include, time bound employment guarantee and wage payment within 15 days, incentive-disincentive structure to the State Governments for providing employment as 90 per cent of the cost for employment provided is borne by the Centre or payment of unemployment allowance at their own cost and emphasis on labour intensive works prohibiting the use of contractors and machinery. The Act also mandates 33 percent participation for women.
The NREGA works are intended to create permanent assets in the rural areas for future needs. These include water conservation and water harvesting,drought proofing (including afforestation and tree plantation);irrigation canals including micro and minor irrigation works;provision of irrigation facility, horticulture plantation and land development facilities on land owned by households belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes or to Below Poverty Line Families or to beneficiaries of land reforms or to the beneficiaries under the IndiraAwas Yojna of the Government of India; renovation of traditional water bodies including desilting oftanks;land development; flood control and protection works including drainage in water logged areas; rural connectivity to provide all-weather access; and any other work which may be notified by the Central Government in consultation with the State Governments.
During the current financial year (2009-2010) the following activities has been undertaken under NREGA so far.
Works Under NREGA No. of Works Undertaken No.of Works Completed
Road Connectivity 335873 44177
Flood Control& Protection works 46980 9830
Water Conservation and Water Harvesting 442125 57959
Drought Proofing 143945 9991
Micro Irrigation Works 112677 15638
Provisions of Irrigation facility to Land Owned by farmers 394223 72053
Renovation of Traditional Water Bodies 209049 24953
Land Development works 258345 31658
Works approved by the Ministry of Rural Development 17478 1270
All adult members of a rural household willing to do unskilled manual work have the right to demand employment. Such households will apply for the Job Card to the Gram Panchayat . The Gram Panchayat will verify the age and local domicile of the applicant. After verification, the GramPanchayat will issue a Job Card to the household with photograph free of cost The Job Card must remain in the custody of the household. Job Cardholder can apply for work to the Gram Panchayatwhich will issue him/her a dated receipt of the work application.
Employment will be provided by the Gram Panchayat (local self governing body) within 15 days of work application, else unemployment allowance will be paid. A household may avail up to 100 days of guaranteed employment in a financial year, depending on its need.
Unemployment Allowance will be provided will be provided by the states to an applicant if he/she is not provided employment within 15 days of the receipt of application seeking employment from the date on which the employment has been sought in case of an advance application ,whicheveris later.
Water conservation; drought proofing (including plantation and afforestation); flood protection; land development; minor irrigation. An annual shelf of works to be prepared in advance of each year.
A ratio of 60:40 will be maintained between wage and material. Contractors/machineryare not permitted.
Wages paid at the wage rate to the wage earners through their Bank / Post Office accounts. Payment of wages to be made every week and in any case not later than a fortnight .
Gram Sabha (local community) will recommend works to be taken up.Gram Panchayats will execute at least 50% of works. Panchayati Raj Institutions will have a principal role in planning. monitoring and implementation.
Citizen Information Boards with details of work are to be put at the work sites. Crèche, drinking water, first aid and shade are to be provided on the work sites. Muster rolls to be maintained and open to inspection. Timely measurement to be ensured. At least one-third of the workers should be women .
Proactive disclosure of information. Social Audit by the Gram Sabha is mandatory. Regular Monitoring at all levels. Grievance Redressal Mechanism is to be set up. A Web enabled MIS www.nrega.nic.in for monitoring, decision making and transparency.
90% borne by the Central Government and 10% by the State Governments .
NREGA workers have been identified as a category for Jan Shree Bima Yojna for insurance cover.
Budget Estimate for NREGA during 2008-09 was Rs. 16000 crore which was revised to Rs. 30,000 crore. During the current Financial year 2009-10, the budgetary allocation under NREGA has been hiked to Rs. 30,100 crore.
Total Expenditure and wages disbursed under NREGA
Year Amount spent on wages (Rs. crores) Total Expenditure (Rs. In crores)
2006-07 5,842.37 8,823.35
2007-08 10,738.47 15,856.89
2008-09 18,165.57 134582.29
2009-10 (up to August 13, 2009) 6314.86 8561.65
Total 41061.27
1,67,824.18
Employment Generation: 612.65 crores persondays of employment generated since inception.
Year Persondays incrores No. of households provided employment in crores
2006-07 90.50 2.10
2007-08 143.59 3.39
2008-09 214.56 4.50
2009-10(up to August 13, 2009) 73.5 2.28
Total 612.65 12.27
Social inclusion : participation of SC/ST and women
Year SC ST Women
2006-07 25% 36% 41%
2007-08 27% 29% 43%
2008-09 29.31% 25.41% 47.88%
2009-10 (up to 13 August, 2009 28.94% 23.99% 52.01%
Significant Impacts of NREGA so far
Employment opportunities and wage rates have gone up leading to significant dent in poverty in rural areas. Minimum wages for agricultural labourers have increased after the implementation of NREGA in Maharashtra from Rs.47 to Rs.72, in Uttar Pradesh from Rs.58 to Rs.100, in Bihar from Rs.68 to Rs.81, in West Bengal from Rs.64 to Rs.75, in Madhya Pradesh from Rs.58 to Rs.85, in Jammu & Kashmir from Rs.45 to Rs.70, and in Chhattisgarh from Rs.58 to Rs.72, to name a few States. At the National Level, the average wages paid under NREGA has increased from Rs.65 in 2006-07 to Rs.84 in 2008-09. In the same year over 67% of the funds have been utilized in the form of wages(Rs.18146.93Crore). Increase in wage rate and number of workdays in rural areas has increased the income of rural households. Increase in income has resulted in increase in ability of rural households to purchase foodgrains, other essential commodities, and to access education and health care.
Rise in water table in dry and arid regions as large number of water conservation and drought proofing works have been taken up under NREGA. In Financial year 2008-09, upto mid-December,2008, 20.71 lakh works have been undertaken, of which 47% relate to water conservation, provision of irrigation facility to individual beneficiaries constituted around 19%, rural connectivity 17%, land development 16% and remaining 1% of works related to other activities.
Panchayati Raj Institutions and Gram Sabhas have been activated. More than 5.77 croressavings accounts in the banks and Post Offices have been opened for the NREGAworkers.Insurance cover under Janashree Bima Yojana and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojanabeing extended to NREGS workers.
1.16 crores muster rolls and 5.7 crore job cards have been put on the website (nrega.nic.in).A toll free number 1800110707 set up to enable workers and other persons to submit complaints and queries to the Government of India. Helpline also set up by States like Orissa, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Goa and Uttar Pradesh.
Social audit has been conducted in 1.8 lakhs Gram Panchayats. states have been directed to conduct social audit of each and every work of NREGA within 3 months.
In order to ensure guaranteed employment to the households, intensive IEC activities have been undertaken to generate greater awareness among rural households about their legal rights under the Act. It has been emphasized upon the States to employ dedicated staff in the implementing agencies. Salary of such dedicated staff is met out of the administrative expenditure admissible under the Act. States have also been directed to ensure that adequate number of works are available to meet the labour demand. Implementation of NREG Act is monitored on regular basis. National level Monitors (NLMs) and Area Officers visit various districts to oversee the progress of the Act. Professional institutions such as IIMs, IITs, Agricultural Universities and other Social Sciences Institutes have been engaged to assess the implementation of NREGA in the States. Payments of wages to unskilled workers is through the Banks and Post Offices has been one of the important tools in the act to ensure transparency. A comprehensive Web-based MISwww.nrega.nic.in places all data in public domain and a Citizen Information Board has been introduced for display at all prominent places. A grievance redressal mechanism and National toll-free telephone Helpline under NREGA have been set up to receive the complaints and queries relating to NREGA. States have also been requested to set up similar helplines. The act has been instrumental in coming to the help of the rural masses people and with further improvements it is poised to play a vital role in times to come.
South Asian Countries meet on Sanitation
________________________________________
15:57 IST
A two-day meeting of the Inter Country Working Group for South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN) was inaugurated in New Delhi today by the Union Minister of Rural Development Dr. C.P.Joshi. Addressing the delegates, Dr. Joshi stated that ‘Sanitation has a strong connection not only with personal hygiene but also with human dignity and well-being, public health, nutrition and even education’. Quoting Mahatma Gandh’s dream of ‘total sanitation for all’ he said that cleanliness and sanitation were an integral part of the Gandhian way of living.
Country Delegates from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal and India are participating in the meeting. Delegates / experts from UN, International Agencies like UNICEF, Water-AID,FANSA and WSP-SA are also participating in the meeting.
Ms. Agatha Sangma, Minister of State of Rural Development, in her Presidential address emphasised the key role of women in achieving total sanitation and stressed that greater attention on the sanitation needs of adolescent girls is needed.
Shri Shantanu Counsul, Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water Supply made suggestions for improving the reach and use of sanitation facilities in the region.
The Inter Country Working Group meeting has been organized in pursuance of one of the commitments made in the Delhi Declaration adopted by the Third South Asian Conference on Sanitation held in New Delhi last year. It will deliberate upon various steps taken by member countries as a follow up of the commitments made in the Delhi Declaration. The next South Asian Conference on Sanitation is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in 2010.
The meeting will also explore ways to build solidarity, resources networks and institutions and to promote inter Governmental and cross country co-operation to develop capacities to achieve sustainable sanitation.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51975
NGO bags WB grant for malnutrition project
TNN 18 August 2009, 10:39pm IST
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VADODARA: A city-based NGO's project on improving nutrition among newborns and children in tribal areas has bagged a grant funded by the World
Bank (WB) through the South Asia Region Development Marketplace. The NGO, Deepak Foundation, had participated in the 'Family and Community Approaches to Improve Infant and Young Child Nutrition' competition designed to identify innovative ideas to improve nutrition among children under two years of age and pregnant women.
Around 1,000 applications from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka went through a vigorous assessment process by international development experts. The applicants were narrowed down to 60 finalists who then showcased their ideas during a two-day seminar in Dhaka, Bangladesh and of whom 21 entries were selected for the grant.
"India has stagnated when it comes to dealing with problem of malnutrition in infants and children. Our project was selected based on the innovative components which suggested leveraging on the joint implementation of various government schemes by involving parents and community," said Archana Joshi, director of Deepak Foundation.
The foundation is one of the 21 civil society organizations from across South Asia to win the grant funded by South Asia Region Development Marketplace. Its project 'Community involvement in promoting neonatal and infant nutrition in tribal Vadodara' was the only one selected from Gujarat and one of the nine selected from India.
"In our project, we have proposed convergence of village health and sanitation committees with water committees under Water and Sanitation Management Organization (WASMO). This will raise awareness on importance of clean drinking water and create awareness on nutrition-health issues, ensuring distribution of fortified complementary food premix and iron supplements," added Joshi. The NGO will kick-start pilot project in 200 villages in tribal blocks of Vadodara with the World Bank grant.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/vadodara/City-NGO-bags-WB-grant-for-malnutrition-project/articleshow/4907905.cms
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