24-10-09

Mining – India 1
1. Centre advises Orissa to meet Posco, ArcelorMittal 1
2. SAIL scores a point in Chiria iron mines dispute news 2
3. Coal mining 'impossible' at Tadoba 3
4. Road blockade against uranium mining in Meghalaya 3
Mining - International 5
5. New shooting at Indonesia's Freeport mine, two hurt 5
6. CORRECTED-Cameroon Alumina says finds 550 mln tonnes bauxite 6
7. The Mining Act was written 100 years ago 7
8. Mining rare earths for a hi-tech future 9
9. Chinese mining firm to invest USD 1 billion in Philippines 10
Other News – India 11
10. Nuclear conflict to affect world peace' 11
11. In order to ease the conflict in the region, Al-Qaida, Taliban and other radical Islamic groups that are active in Pakistan and Afghanistan, need to be crushed. 12
12. FBV decries move to ‘dilute’ Right to Information Act 12
13. Joining hands for Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation 12
14. Reality check on Child Labour Act 13
15. Climate change threatens rice production 14
16. World has less than 5 years to stop uncontrollable climate change 15
Meghalaya Uranium – Update 16
17. Uranium deal highlights No role for State Government? 16
18. Govt likely to face more protests Anti-uranium mining campaign 18
19. AMDA denies ‘cash for uranium’ claim 19
20. Mining haste miffs Agatha 19
21. Uranium deposits in Meghalaya could be double: AMD 20
22. Money given as vehicle hire charges: Wonder Myrthong 21

Mining – India

Centre advises Orissa to meet Posco, ArcelorMittal

Press Trust Of India / New Delhi October 20, 2009, 0:37 IST

At the advice of the Centre, the Orissa government is convening a meeting this week with Posco and ArcelorMittal to resolve issues like land acquisition and mining leases which are blocking Rs 1 lakh crore investment plans by the two global steel giants in the state.
“We have requested the state government. They are calling the meeting...The issues hurting the two projects would be discussed,” Steel Secretary P K Rastogi said.
The meeting in Bhuba-neswar is likely be held on October 23 and would be chaired by the State Chief Secretary, T K Mishra.
The meeting in Bhuba-neswar is likely be held on October 23 and would be chaired by the State Chief Secretary, T K Mishra.
Senior officials of the Union Steel Ministry would also be present. Collectors from Keonjhar and Jagatsinghpur, the proposed locations of the ArcelorMittal and Posco projects respectively, have also been asked to attend the meeting, Rastogi said.
After ArcelorMittal threatened earlier this month to abandon its over Rs 80,000-crore steel projects in Orissa and Jharkhand and move elsewhere in the country, the Centre had held talks with officials of the world's largest steel maker. Earlier, talks with Posco officials were also held.
Regulatory hurdles, including iron ore mining leases and protests over land acquisition have disappointed both ArcelorMittal and South Korean giant Posco
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/centre-advises-orissa-to-meet-posco-arcelormittal/373763/

SAIL scores a point in Chiria iron mines dispute news
Tuesday, 20 Oct 2009
As a battle continues to rage between state run steelmaker Steel Authority of India Ltd and the Jharkhand government over control of the Chiria iron ore belt Asia's largest with proven reserves of two billion tonnes of high-grade ore, it is reported that SAIL will not only get a billion tonnes but will also be entitled to stake claim to some of the remainder.

After SAIL's stated requirements have been met, the rest will go to the private sector, according to a Business Standard report quoting anonymous sources.

Right now, only SAIL has any leases on Chiria. It has already proposed to set up a new 12-million tonne steel plant in Jharkhand. This would translate into a requirement of 600 million tonnes from the unallocated billion tonnes of ore.

This leaves very little for the private sector, especially ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel maker. Mittal signed an agreement with the Jharkhand government in 2005 to establish a mega steel unit and was assured of supply from Chiria.

The Jharkhand government and SAIL have locked horns over the ownership of the Chiria mines for more than three years. The state continues to dispute SAIL's claim over the mines, which were allotted to the erstwhile Indian Iron & Steel Company subsequently merged with SAIL four years ago.

http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/10/20/MTE2ODE1/SAIL_scores_a_point_in_Chiria_iron_mines_dispute_news.html


Coal mining 'impossible' at Tadoba
Ashwin Aghor / DNA
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 1:43 IST
Mumbai: The Adani Mines Private Ltd will have to do the "impossible" if it has to go ahead with its proposed coal mining project at Lohara, on the outskirts of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), in Chandrapur district. It will have to "create a similar forest with identical biodiversity" to maintain continuity of the forest corridor stretching to South India.

A recent state forest department report has officials highlighting the possible threat to the pristine forest cover and the biodiversity of the region. They expressed fear that wildlife, and most importantly, Asia's only teak wood gene pool -- there are just 12 of them in the whole world -- will be destroyed once the mining activities begin. "The only option is to create a similar forest with identical biodiversity in the vicinity, and then start mining," said a senior official of the forest department. "This is something which cannot be done."
A portion of the coal block, falling inside the proposed buffer zone of TATR, raises another insurmountable hurdle to the proposed project. "The 1600 hectares of land, being leased out to the company to mine coal for its proposed thermal power project at Tiroda in Gondia district, supports rich forest and wide-ranging biodiversity, including a sizeable tiger population," said Shyam Pandharipande, a senior environmentalist from Nagpur. "Nearly 1.3 million full-grown trees will have to be cut down to clear the land for mining operations, which in turn are bound to damage to the ecosystem both above and below the ground."
The environmental cost of the project, mentioned by the company in its environmental impact analysis, is a mind-boggling Rs2.78 billion. The buffer zone of the proposed coal mine covers an area of six reserve forests. "Also, under imminent threat is Asia's only teak wood gene pool (National Germ-plasm Bank), which houses 279 mother plants with three replicas of each," the official said.
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_coal-mining-impossible-at-tadoba_1300716

Road blockade against uranium mining in Meghalaya
October 20th, 2009 - 3:15 pm ICT by IANS
Shillong, Oct 20 (IANS) The influential Khasi Students Union (KSU) has decided to intensify its agitation by enforcing a night-long road blockade on national highways from Tuesday night to protest a proposed uranium mining project in the state.
KSU president Samuel B. Jyrwa told reporters: “The three-night road blockade would commence at 8 p.m. Tuesday night and continue till 5 a.m. Wednesday and again at similar times Oct 21, 22 and 23.”
“We will make our agitation stronger until the state government considers our demand and revokes the leasing of 422 hectares of land to the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) for 30 years,” Jyrwa added.
The KSU’s two-night road blockade Oct 14 and Oct 15 to protest the proposed uranium mining project last week affected vehicular movement, specially night passenger buses and goods-laden trucks, on the national highways between Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.
Last week’s two-night road blockade turned violent when many vehicles including six government cars were set ablaze by KSU activists.
The KSU and several local parties have been spearheading the movement against the Meghalaya government’s decision to allow the UCIL to carry out pre-project development programmes in 422 hectares of the uranium-rich areas of West Khasi Hills.
A number of NGOs under the banner of Ka Synjuk Seng Bhalang West Khasi Hills (KSSBWKH) Monday issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Congress-led government in Meghalaya to withdraw its decision on the pre-project development programmes of UCIL.
Meghalaya Principal Secretary (Home) Barkos Warjri told reporters: “Superintendents of Police of the four districts - East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi - have been asked to ensure that the traffic flow along the national and other highways is not disturbed due to the night road blockade.”
Directing the police to take stern action against the agitators, Chief Minister D.D. Lapang told reporters: “The uranium reserves are a national property and no one can stop the government from using them.”
“The government has waited for 20 long years to persuade the people to allow uranium mining at Domiasiat in West Khasi Hills district of southern Meghalaya,” he noted.
Meanwhile, amid protests by KSU and other local parties against the government’s proposed uranium mining project, various organisations supporting the authotities’ move held a massive rally here last week.
The rally was organised by the newly formed pro-mining organisation - Associations of Meghalaya for Development and Advancement (AMDA), a conglomerate of NGOs from various districts.
AMDA supports the state government’s move to go ahead with the Rs 2.09 billion first-phase development by UCIL in the mineral-rich west Khasi Hills district.
A senior Meghalaya government official said the union ministry of environment and forests has already allowed UCIL to start mining for the annual production of 375,000 tonnes of uranium ore and process 1,500 tonnes of the mineral ore per day in West Khasi Hills district.
The UCIL has proposed a Rs.1,046 crore open-cast uranium mining and processing plant at Domiasiat in the West Khasi Hills district. Meghalaya has an estimated 9.22 million tonnes of uranium ore deposits.
“The UCIL would invest Rs 2.09 billion to undertake pre-developmental project activities to build schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure,” the official said.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/road-blockade-against-uranium-mining-in-meghalaya_100262993.html

Mining - International

New shooting at Indonesia's Freeport mine, two hurt
Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:32am EDT

JAKARTA, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Two employees were wounded in a shooting near Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc.'s (FCX.N) Grasberg mine in Indonesia's Papua province, a company spokesman said on Tuesday, the latest in a series of attacks in the area.
Mindo Pangaribuan of PT Freeport Indonesia said the shooting had no impact on production at the mine, which accounts for nearly 40 percent of Freeport's total copper reserves of 93 billion pounds, and boasts the world's largest gold reserves.
"There were shots fired at a security-escorted bus convoy around 0940 a.m local time on Tuesday. Two employees experienced minor injury and are receiving medical treatment," Pangaribuan said, adding the attack happened on a road used to transport logistics for the mine.
Sulistyo Ishak, deputy spokesman for the National Police, told Elshinta radio one employee was shot in his finger and leg, while the other was wounded on the hip.
A series of shootings by unidentified gunmen near the mine in past months, have resulted in some casualties, but so far they have not disrupted production at the mine.
The police and military said they have stepped up security in Papua, the easternmost part of the sprawling Indonesian archipelago. The Grasberg mine is about 3,350 km (2,080 miles) east of Indonesia's capital Jakarta.
Some analysts have tied the recent outbreaks of violence to possible conflicts between the police and military over lucrative security arrangements at the mine and related business ventures, charges authorities have rejected.
Freeport has said it expected its Indonesian unit to sell 1.3 billion pounds of copper this year, up from 1.1 billion pounds of copper in 2008.
It sees gold sales from Grasberg reaching 2.3 million ounces this year, up from 1.2 million ounces in 2008 as it mines higher grade ores.
In the first six months of 2009, Freeport Indonesia produced 807 million recoverable pounds of copper, up from 422 millions pounds in the same period last year, the firm said on its website.
(For a Q+A on the Freeport shootings, click [ID:nJAK204756])
(Reporting by Fitri Wulandari and Retno Palupi; Editing by Ed Davies)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSJAK52608120091020

CORRECTED-Cameroon Alumina says finds 550 mln tonnes bauxite
Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:21am EDT

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By Tansa Musa
YAOUNDE, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Cameroon Alumina Ltd has found 550 million tonnes of bauxite deposits at the Ngaoundal and Minim-Martap properties in the country's Adamawa region, a company official told Reuters.
Cameroon Alumina Ltd is a joint venture set up in 2008 by Dubai Aluminium Company Ltd and India's Hindalco Industries (HALC.BO), which each have a 45 percent stake, along with U.S. firm Hydromine Inc. which holds the remaining interest.
"We've found a minimum of 550 million tonnes of bauxite reserves and all indications are that there may be another 200 million tonnes at least," company co-chair Peter Briger told Reuters Thursday after presenting an update to government officials. "The bauxite is first class quality. It is not terribly deep in the ground," he said.
Briger said the company hopes to build a mining operations at the site that would produce 4.5 to 9 million tonnes of bauxite per year starting in late 2014 and an alumina refinery with a capacity of 1.4 to 3 million tonnes.
"The geology and mining feasibility report is under finalization and should be ready by 31 October," said Briger. "The real challenge is the logistics problem because the mining site is 860 km from the port. The key, therefore, is to find an efficient and cost-effective way of bringing processed alumina to the port for export."
Briger said the company was in negotiations with government officials over possibly upgrading and extending existing railway links from the mines to the Kribi deep sea port.
General Manager Eric Lavalou said the project will cost some $5 billion to build and said the company is hoping for a mining license from government by the end of the year.
"Over all, the project is progressing well, within all stakeholders expectations," said Lavalou. "If all goes well according to our plan, the bankable feasibility study should be through in 2012 and make way for construction work to begin, which will last 40 months. ...We expect the first shipment of Cameroon alumina in five years." (Reporting by Tansa Musa)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLJ1153420091019

The Mining Act was written 100 years ago
written by gilles bisson mpp
monday, 19 october 2009 17:38
QUEEN'S PARK - The Mining Act was written 100 years ago. It is an outdated piece of legislation that has led to conflicts between mining companies, Aboriginal peoples, landowners and the public.

It needs to be updated.

Unfortunately the McGuinty government has squandered a wonderful opportunity to develop legislation that provides greater certainty to mining companies, respects First Nations authority over their land, and protects the individual landholders’ rights and the environment.

Instead of working towards a framework that all can agree upon, the McGuinty government is plunging ahead with a bill that pleases no one.

The process has been bad – and the content is not much better.

Minister Gravelle suggests that the consultations were “unprecedented” and “by no means cut short.”

They may have been unprecedented – but not in a positive way. In fact, they were an insult to many of the parties involved.

By introducing the Bill in the way it did, the McGuinty government preempted two years of government-to-government negotiations with First Nations leaders over a framework agreement that was supposed to inform the Bill.

The government did hold hearings on the Bill, but scheduled hearings in Timmins – either intentionally or unintentionally – on the very day that key aboriginal leaders from Nishnawbe Aski Nation were tied with election.

Third, they ignored the majority of amendments suggested by First Nations, environmental groups and landowners.

And finally, they shut down debate in the legislature through a time allocation motion.

The Liberals attempt to curtail debate and discussion both contributes to and reflects its serious limitations.

The problem with the Bill is that it is muddle of half measures aimed at pleasing everyone but in the end satisfying no one.

First Nations were clear that they expected the requirement of prior and informed consent prior to mining on their territory to be part of the Bill. Instead, they got a vague promise of consultation.

Environmental groups were clear that the Bill needed to ensure that companies paid the full costs of cleaning up sites, that mining claims should go through an environmental process, and that uranium mining be put on hold until it was proven to be safe for the environment. They got none of the above.

Individual landowners wanted to ensure that all land owners would have a say in mining-related activities that would have an impact on their health and livelihood. Instead, the bill gives protections to landowners in southern Ontario but not the north, it allows existing claims on private property to stand, it allows staking on Crown land even if it goes against the official plans of the municipality, and it provides no protection to residents and cottagers living in proximity to, or downstream from, potential mine sites.

The Mining Act as it stands it is a recipe for uncertainty amongst mining companies, frustration from First Nations, and concern amongst environmental groups.

Yes we need to reform the Mining Act. But not in a way that respects the interests of the parties involved – not the interests of government alone.

Gilles Bisson MPP
http://netnewsledger.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=674:the-mining-act-was-written-100-years-ago&catid=45:opinions-now&Itemid=119


Mining rare earths for a hi-tech future
20 Oct 2009, 0316 hrs IST, Abheek Barman, ET Bureau

What’s the connection between the latest Sony Playstation, the Chinese government’s recent attempts to curb some exports and a vicious war

in Central Africa? Two little known minerals called, columbite and tantalum, which Africans collectively call coltan.

Both are metals, found in very small amounts on Earth, essential for all the smart technologies that we can’t live without. Columbite (or niobium) and tantalum are only two of the many minerals called ‘rare earths’. As the name suggests this stuff is thin on the ground. Unlike minerals like iron ore, or coal or bauxite, some of these are so rare that their appearances are measured in parts per million, rather than percentages. But that doesn’t mean they’re useless, far from it.

Many of these are essential ingredients in mobile phones, video game machines, computers and even green technologies. For example tantalum, a shiny, blue grey metal, can make batteries smaller even while storing more power. It also goes into modern nuclear reactors and lethal smart bombs. Tiny amounts of two other rare earths dysprosium or terbium might soon be used in electric cars: they let batteries work at high temperatures.

For many years, India was the world’s largest producer of these rare minerals, mined from coastal sand. But that leadership is long gone. India now is largely a coal and iron ore mining country, regulated by rules that are more than 50 years old. Few here know, or care, about the minerals of the future. If we don’t wake up now, we’ll lose the race to develop technologies of the future.

Rare earth is still mined here by small companies, many of which are fronts of state politicians or local mafia, with primitive technology and scant regard for safety or environment rules. This anarchy shows up in market share: till 1948, India was the world’s largest producer of rare earths. Today, it’s nowhere.

Now, one country controls 95% of these minerals of the future: China. From the 1980s, when China started growing its electronics businesses, Deng Xiaoping predicted rare earths would be the petroleum of the future. It increased production, expanded into new areas like Mongolia and bought out assets whenever it got a chance.

China’s control over rare earths can give it enormous clout over supplies and prices. Its first move has been to try and hoard the stuff. The world’s most aggressive exporter makes one exception to the rule: rare earth minerals. Taxes from 6% to about 40% have been slapped on exporters of the stuff. In some cases stringent quotas have been slapped on how much of these exotic minerals can be shipped overseas.

America, whose military industry is tech-savvy, has caught on. Recently, a journal called Defense News wrote, “Now armed with its monopoly, China is jacking up prices by cutting production and exports and pressuring high-tech manufacturers to set up shop in China, where supplies are more plentiful.” It added, “The combination of rising costs and tighter control on exports, however, is alarming companies worldwide, including US weapons makers and Pentagon officials.”

The production of energy efficient materials and high performance compounds is expected to grow fast in the west. Demand for rare earths is expected to surge and along with that, prices. Global investors have smelled windfall gains. Media reports say that an index of stocks of 12 companies that mine rare earths is up over 500% this year. Is that a bubble out there?

Never mind, projections of soaring demand have producers across the world scrambling to find new sources of these exotic minerals. The new exploration targets are Canada, where the chances of finding high-value “heavy” minerals are high, Australia, Brazil and South Africa.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Comments-Analysis/Mining-rare-earths-for-a-hi-tech-future/articleshow/5140303.cms

Chinese mining firm to invest USD 1 billion in Philippines
Tuesday, 20 Oct 2009
Xinhua reported that one of China's largest gold producers has formally signified its interest to invest USD 1 billion in gold and copper exploration in the Philippines over the next 5 years.

Malacanang said in a statement that Zijin Mining Group Company through its chairman Mr Chen Jinghe signed a MoU with Environment Secretary Mr Joselito Atienza at the latter's office.

Mr Atienza said that Zijin's intention to invest was clearly stated in the MOU, which was signed shortly after Mr Chen and Mr Jerry Angping, president of local partner Nihao Mineral Resources International, paid a courtesy call on President Arroyo at the Bahay Pangarap in Malacanang Park.

Mr Atienza said that Zijin is prepared to spend USD 1 billion in gold and copper exploration in the Philippines over a 5 year period despite the country's strict mining laws.

Formerly known as the Fujian Province Shanghang County Mining Company, Zijin has holding subsidiaries in 20 provinces in China and seven countries and has become China's largest owner of metal mineral resources, its largest

http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/10/20/MTE2OTM3/Chinese_mining_firm_to_invest_USD_1_billion_in_Philippines.html

Other News – India

Nuclear conflict to affect world peace'



Express News Service
First Published : 20 Oct 2009 08:41:38 AM IST
Last Updated : 20 Oct 2009 10:15:48 AM IST

HYDERABAD: Nuclear conflict in South-East Asia is detrimental to the world as it threatens peace and harmony.
All nations should take initiative to avoid such conflicts, Rodney Jones, president of Policy Architects International said.
Delivering a lecture on ‘Nuclear Stability in Asia: Trends and Risks for the subcontinent’, Jones said that the nuclear weapons did not end the fear of confrontation, nor did they stop wars and other proxy warfare, all they did was to stop both the sides from initiating any war against the primary adversary and its allies.
In South-East Asia, the trend since 1990s seem to have changed.
The conventional military balance and imbalance will remain depending on the security futures of the subcontinent.
The conventional military imbalance in South-East Asia would lead to outbreak of another war, and whether these imbalances would accentuate the risk of nuclear escalation and outbreak of a nuclear war is a question that does not have an answer, he said.
Despite serious crises over Cuba and Middle-East during the Cold War, American, NATO and Russian leaders shied away from authorising their armed forces to open fire on their opponent forces, he added.
Jones also said that the global war against terrorism has made the conventional and nuclear stability issues in South-East Asia more acute, partly because US policy opened a political space for striking back against those states that the Indian sponsors believe would give no justification to Pak for crossing the N-threshold.
In order to ease the conflict in the region, Al-Qaida, Taliban and other radical Islamic groups that are active in Pakistan and Afghanistan, need to be crushed.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=‘Nuclear+conflict+to+affect+world+peace&artid=zetPzfE/FRY=&SectionID=xAV59odivTs=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=BUzPVSKuYv7MFxnS0yZ7ng==&SEO=
FBV decries move to ‘dilute’ Right to Information Act
Staff Reporter
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Forum for Better Visakha (FBV) has decried attempts to dilute the Right to Information Act by incorporating certain changes.
Reacting to reports that the Department of Personnel and Training was contemplating some amendments to the RTI Act, forum convener E.A.S. Sarma pointed out that one of the amendments implied that “discussions and consultations that go into the decision-making process are of no relevance to the general public and should be exempted from disclosure under RTI Act.”
Mr. Sarma, former IAS officer opined that this was highly disconcerting development. Such an amendment would dilute the concept of transparency in the functioning of the government and encourage corruption and dishonesty among the civil servants and the members of the political executive.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he hoped that being Cabinet Minister in-charge of the Department of Personnel that dealt with the RTI Act, he would pass required orders to refrain from attempts to dilute the Act.
Earlier, the forum, along with other NGOs and concerned citizens, had opposed a move made by the government to exempt ‘file noting’ from public disclosure, as it would have offended the letter and spirit of Article 19 of the Constitution, as interpreted by the courts from time to time.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/20/stories/2009102059400500.htm


Joining hands for Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation
________________________________________
16:1 IST
A Round Table on strategies for Rural Drinking Water Supply Program and Sanitation is being organised by the Department of Rural Drinking Water Supply, Ministry of Rural Development at the Mirza Galib Hall, Scope Complex, Lodi Road New Delhi on Wednesday, the Oct. 21st,2009. The objective is to create awareness, orient and encourage the user groups and ensure wider participation of NGOs, Women Groups in the massive task of rural drinking water supply and sanitation under the Bharat Nirman program. The day long deliberations will focus on strategies which could be conducive for State Governments and the PRIs to upscale the activities under the National Rural Drinking Water Supply Program and the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC).

The round Table will be inaugurated by Ms. Agatha Sangma, Minister of State for Rural Development and presided over by the Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Dr. C.P.Joshi who will deliver the valedictory address. The conference would be attended by representatives from several Union Ministries and from State Governments/ UT administrations, NGOs, social activists and leading educational institutions. Separate working groups would be discussing the strategies and come forward with the framework which could be adopted by the states based on their feasibility.

Among the issues likely to be discussed related to Rural Drinking Water Service delivery including Village Level/ community level decentralized systems and involvement of NGOs and CBOs, strengthening of PRIs for their future role in planning, execution and maintenance , Public-private partner ships, Capacity building and awareness generation of community; PRIs and technical personnel. Discussions on Water resources would be focussed on depleting ground water; Conjunctive use of water, traditional water harvesting, revival of water resources etc. Issues related to Rural Sanitation include - Successful models of IEC activities that can catalyze TSC; Scaling up of TSCs to achieve universal toilet coverage by 2012; Sustainability of sanitation coverage already achieved and increasing the participation of stake holders such as PRIs, NGOs, line departments etc.

It is expected that the outcome of these deliberations would provide a framework of the strategies to be adopted for short time and medium term planning so that basic functional requirement of providing safe drinking water to the rural population is met with ease and sustenance.
************

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=53293

Reality check on Child Labour Act


Express News Service
First Published : 20 Oct 2009 08:38:30 AM IST

HYDERABAD: Child labour has always persisted in our society despite several attempts to root it out.
The government of India had issued a ban in 1986 on employing children below the age of 14 in some hazardous sectors like chemical factories, cracker units etc. Recently in 2006, the government modified the Act by banning child labour in the domestic sector, hotels, dhabas, eateries etc.
To conduct a reality check on the situation, the Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL), AP Chapter has decided to conduct a survey on the statistics of the child labour.
NVS Ramamohan, State convenor, CACL, AO Chapter says, “It has been almost three years since the since the government amended the old Act and brought in changes. The government is under the impression that the law is being implemented well. But we want to bring out facts.” The CACL informed that it would conduct a district wise study on the subject through local NGOs, civil society organisations and also take the help of Right To Information (RTI) Act to retrieve information from the Child Welfare Department.
Ch Murali Mohan, National Committee Member, CACL said, “The final report of our findings will be submitted to the Chief Minister and also to the concerned Ministers.”

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Reality+check+on+Child+Labour+Act&artid=n46AXJdf9tE=&SectionID=xAV59odivTs=&MainSectionID=xAV59odivTs=&SEO=&SectionName=BUzPVSKuYv7MFxnS0yZ7ng==


Climate change threatens rice production
20.10.2009
Once-in-a-lifetime floods in the Philippines, India’s delayed monsoon, and extensive drought in Australia are taking their toll on this year’s rice crops, demonstrating the vulnerability of rice to extreme weather.
Anzeige
Rice Today’s October-December 2009 edition focuses on climate change and its potential impact on rice. It reveals that it is difficult to prove climate change is responsible for current weather events.

However, by using advanced modeling techniques, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has mapped rice-growing regions in the Philippines that are most likely to experience the negative effects of climate change, showing the extent to which climate change threatens rice production.

Solutions to help farmers adapt are nevertheless available. Cyclone Nargis wreaked havoc on the rice crops and communities of Myanmar in 2008. Since then, IRRI has sent submergence-tolerant and salt-tolerant rice varieties for testing there as more resilient options for farmers.

Massive rat infestations in Myanmar followed cyclone Nargis. Horrific rat infestations also occurred recently in Laos and Bangladesh, where the rodents ate up to 100% of rice crops, invaded house stores of food, bit sleeping people, and likely propagated disease. IRRI is hosting an international conference on rodents in rice to help find solutions.

IRRI takes on the future challenges of adapting rice to climate change backed by its strong history of rice science.

In this issue we pay tribute to science giant Norman Borlaug. He greatly contributed to combating poverty by helping develop high-yielding crop varieties – part of the foundation upon which we can build to tackle the next generation of rice-production issues farmers face.

This issue also kicks off IRRI’s 50th anniversary celebrations, starting with the 6th International Rice Genetics Symposium in the Philippines. The symposium will attract today’s rice scientists from around the world as it will serve as an avenue for exchanging information regarding the latest rice genetics research.

In California, USA, rice growers are directly funding their own research to develop rice varieties suited to their conditions. Japonica rice production there is trying to meet the global shortfall aggravated by drought in Australia. In sub-Saharan Africa, rice growers are being guided by research to help them adopt suitable mechanization techniques to improve their production.

All of these, plus the latest news, views, and books, are available now in Rice Today October-December 2009. Free online registration for the full content and notification of future issues of Rice Today is now available . Subscribers’ copies are being mailed.

http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/agrar_forstwissenschaften/climate_change_threatens_rice_production_141941.html


World has less than 5 years to stop uncontrollable climate change
by ANI on OCTOBER 19, 2009
London, October 19 (ANI): The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has warned that the world has less than five years to get carbon emissions under control or runaway climate change will become inevitable.
Scientists generally agree that the world could keep temperature rises below a dangerous level of two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees F) if greenhouse gas emissions are halved by 2050.
However, according to the Telegraph, a new report from the WWF found that this will require a “green industrial revolution” by 2014, with heavy investment in moving from fossil fuels to ‘low carbon alternatives’ like wind, solar, nuclear and clean coal.
It will also mean switching to electric cars and other green technologies and improving energy efficiency by insulating our homes and wasting less electricity.
The stark warning comes as ministers and officials from around the world meet in London for the Major Economies Forum.
The WWF said that both rich and poor countries need to start investing in renewable energy and encouraging behaviour change among citizens in order to meet the targets.
The report used economic models to calculate how long it would take for a low carbon industry to grow to a point where it is big enough to cut emissions by 50 per cent.
According to Keith Allott, Head of Climate Change at WWF UK, any industry will only grow by 30 per cent every year; so the world has to invest in a low carbon industry now to allow the sector to grow to a point where it takes over from fossil fuels by 2050.
“Clean industry sectors can only expand so far, so quickly. If we wait until later than 2014 to begin aggressively tackling the problem, we will have left it too late to ensure that all the low-carbon solutions required are ready to roll out at the scale needed if we intend to keep within the world’s remaining carbon budget,” he said.
“This report is a compelling reminder of the scale of effort and the speed of action needed if we’re going to make the global transition towards low and zero carbon economies before it’s too late,” he added. (ANI)
http://trak.in/news/world-has-less-than-5-years-to-stop-uncontrollable-climate-change/15346/


Meghalaya Uranium – Update

he Sentinel

Uranium deal highlights No role for State Government?

From our Correspondent

SHILLONG, Oct 18: The UCIL-landowner deal on the pre-project development and uranium-mining seeks to take care of problems like development of West Khasi Hills district and unemployment by incorporating several promises in this regard. However, the State Government does not stand as a guarantor to the deal raising questions in several circles if the government has no role at all in this critical issue.

On the other hand, questions are being raised if the Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) Government headed by DD Lapang had surreptitiously withdrawn from the deal and left West Khasi Hills people to deal directly with a monolith of the Government of India undertaking like UCIL. There is absolutely no mention anywhere in the seven-page agreement between landowners and UCIL, of the State Government intervening in the event one or the other party breaching a part or whole of the agreement, except in matters of environmental clearance.

The highlights of the agreement entered by UCIL, a public sector enterprise based at Jadugoda mine in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, and the representatives of Lyngdoh Sangriang and Myrthong clans as landowners of Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong, Mawthabah (KPM) on March 12, 2007 are:

1. The clans/landowners agreed to the proposal of UCIL for the project for exploration, mining and processing plant, tailing disposal system, townships and other infrastructure facilities for production of magnesium-di-uranate (MDU) at Killing and Rangam blocks and Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills district.

2. Clans/landowners agreed to provide unhindered possession of land at Killing and Rangam blocks and Mawthabah village for a period of 30 years with renewal of the lease beyond the period.

3. UCIL will pay an annual lease of Rs 15,000 per hectare of land to the clans/landowners with provision of increase of 5 per cent annual lease rent every after five years.

4. In addition to the increase of 5 per cent, 15 per cent will be paid as royalty to the Meghalaya Government and clans/landowners only on commencement of production of uranium ore.

5. UCIL will make necessary arrangements for rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) of the land-displaced families arising out of the KPM project and will provide at least one job each of the lessors/awardees displaced due to the KPM project.

6. UCIL will provide maximum unskilled jobs to land owners or their nominees in KPM project based on merit and available vacancies and will further consider local people for employment for remaining vacancies on merit.

7. UCIL will implement R&R policy in letter and spirit in consultation with the representatives of clans/landowners and the State Government.

8. UCIL will provide 15 per cent seats for local people other than employees for admission in school to be established in KPM project.

9. UCIL will compensate the cost of existing trees of 0.30 meter girth or above as per rate assessed by the Forest Department of Meghalaya standing on land to be acquired on lease.

10. UCIL has agreed in principle not to go for displacement of existing residents of Mawthabah village.

11. Clans/landowners will not raise any hindrance during the subsistence and tenure of the lease to UCIL and allow it without any interruption to carry on the various pre-project activities.

12. UCIL will obtain environmental clearance and no-objection certificates etc, from the authorities concerned as required under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

13. The control over production and use of atomic energy is completely on the domain of Central Government as prescribed under Section 14 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 subject to Atomic Energy (Working of Mines, Minerals and Handling of Prescribed Substance) Rules, 1984. Therefore, UCIL will take licence for uranium mining as well as processing of uranium ore from the appropriate licensing authority for the uranium project.

14. The lease between UCIL and clans/landowners will be prepared at the expense of UCIL.

15. In the event of any difference arising out of the agreement, such differences will be discussed and sorted out and resolved amicably between parties of the agreement.



Shillong Times

Govt likely to face more protests
Anti-uranium mining campaign
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The MUA Government may be in a catch-22 situation over the uranium issue as several NGOs are planning a series of agitation programmes, besides fresh night road blockade announced by KSU in the four districts of Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
KSU will enforce three-nights road blockade in East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts starting at 8 pm on October 20. Similarly, it would come into effect on the following days, ending at 5 am on October 23.
KSU has been opposing the Cabinet decision on "pre-project" development programmes of UCIL, terming it a ploy to facilitate uranium mining.
According to sources, a number of West Khasi Hills district-based NGOs under the banner of Synjuk ki Seng Bhalang West Khasi Hills (SSBWKH) will meet at Nongstoin on Monday to discuss the pros and cons of the MUA Cabinet decision that had allowed UCIL to start "pre-project" development programmes worth Rs 209 crore only in the uranium-rich areas of the district measuring about 422 square hectares.
The NGOs feel that if the government and UCIL are really concerned with development of West Khasi Hills, the focus should be on developing infrastructure in other areas of the district, not just the proposed uranium mining areas.
"NGOs from the district who do not want to take a risk by blindly welcoming the pre-project development programmes would thoroughly discuss the issue and adopt a consensus decision," an SSBWKH member said.
West Khasi Hills Confederation of Associations for Development (WKHCAD), another umbrella organisation of NGOs from the district, recently warned the State Government not to implement the Rs 209 crore first-phase development programmes of UCIL only in the uranium-rich areas.
"If the government thinks that the first-phase Rs 209 crore programmes should not be linked to actual uranium mining, then why should the development activities be implemented only in 422 hectares?" WKHCAD chairman Mosklander Marngar asked.
Mr Marngar said, "We will not accept the government's decision to allow UCIL to carry out development activities only in the uranium-rich areas at any cost. We will also not allow uranium mining until our demands are met which include sponsoring local students to pursue scientific studies on uranium mining."
AMDA denies ‘cash for uranium’ claim
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Association of Meghalaya for Development and Advancement (AMDA) has clarified that the money given by the association chairman to a person as shown in pictures in ST (Oct 17) was ‘meant for hiring vehicles’ used in the peace rally on Friday last.
"As chairman of the organisation I did not want to trouble the vehicle owner. That is why the fare for the vehicle was paid on the spot after the meeting. Thanks to the media for showing what I have done," AMDA chairman Wonder Myrthong said in a statement on Sunday.
Rejecting the allegation that AMDA had paid Rs 200 each to the persons who attended the rally, Mr Myrthong said, "We will be pleased if those people could come forward to identify them. The organisation has not paid a single penny to the participants because they came to the peace rally on their own."
The AMDA chairman thanked the people who attended the rally, saying, "These people want development of that area where people have been neglected for a very long time."
He urged upon the public not to get misled by "fall propaganda" but to remain firm in supporting betterment of the area where uranium deposits have been found and also the State.

The Telegraph

Mining haste miffs Agatha

OUR CORRESPONDENT
Agatha Sangma

Shillong, Oct. 18: The Union minister of state for rural development, Agatha Sangma, has asked the Meghalaya government to go slow on the uranium mining project saying opinions of all sections of people should be taken into account before going ahead with it.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Agatha said as land was precious for the indigenous people, the government should not take any hasty decision on starting the project.

The statement of Agatha from the Nationalist Congress Party, which is supporting the UPA government at the Centre, assumed significance in the context of claim of chief minister D.D. Lapang that the Union government was prepared to mine uranium in the state at any time.

According to the minister, even if the mining takes a very long time, the government should continue its effort to hold dialogues with the indigenous people before arriving at any conclusion.

There are criticisms from many quarters that the chief minister is in a hurry to allow the UCIL to carry out the pre-development projects, which in turn will facilitate uranium mining. “The identity of the indigenous people of the state is their land and the government should not do anything which can jeopardise their interest,” Agatha said.

The agreement with the UCIL at present is that the villagers will lease the land required for uranium mining for 30 years. According to the minister, taking away the precious land of the people for uranium mining will be insensitivity.

“The people should be convinced whether the mining will ultimately bring out any benefits to them and the government should make efforts in this regard even it if takes time,” Agatha said.

To a question on whether the Centre will use force to mine uranium from the West Khasi Hills district, she said diplomacy and dialogue were the best means to solve any problem. The question is not on whether the Centre will use force or whether there will be health hazards, the basic issue to be addressed is the alienation of the precious land of the people, the minister said.

Asked why the state government is in a hurry to mine uranium, Sangma said, “I am not privy to the inside story or internal politics.” Earlier, the state NCP had also asked the state government not to take any hasty decision on uranium mining and the pre-development projects by suggesting that the matter should have been discussed in the all-party committee on uranium.



Assam Tribune

Uranium deposits in Meghalaya could be double: AMD

SHILLONG, Oct 18 – The actual Uranium deposits in Meghalaya could be double than what has been established in exploration done by Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a top official said.

“Out of the 1,800 sq km of extent of the Mahadek basin in Meghalaya, only 28 per cent of the area is exposed and the deposits so far established are concentrated only in this area. Exploration work on the remaining stretch is being done currently with a relatively new technology called Hallibourne Geo-Physical Survey,” AMD additional director PS Parihar said here recently.

He said so far it has been established that the 28 per cent of the Mahadek Basin accounts for 16,000 tonnes of Uranium, which is 16 per cent of the country’s Uranium resources. “Initial estimates say the entire basin could have over 30,000 tonnes of deposits,” Parihar said on the sidelines of the Homi Bhabha birth centenary celebration at AMDs NE regional centre here.

“There is no reason to discount the rest of the basin which is unexposed. To explore the concealed deposits, the AMD is planning multi-disciplinary investigation,” he said, adding that the rugged and inaccessible terrain with poor infrastructure and communication facilities is posing formidable challenges in the area.

The new technically-advanced survey using electro- magnetic radiation, being done by the AMD, is exploring the sub-surface conductors of the entire Mahadek basin to detect mineralisation, after which drilling would be done.

Parihar said AMD, during its six decades of exploration, has discovered Uranium resources to the tune of 1,24,000 tonne spread across the States of Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Rajasthan and Karnataka. Currently the Directorate is carrying out active exploration works in Andhra Pradesh, North Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Karnataka, besides Meghalaya. – PTI


Meghalaya Times

Money given as vehicle hire charges: Wonder Myrthong

Written by the Editor
Monday, 19 October 2009 08:16
Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct. 18: The chairman of the Association of Meghalaya for Development and Advancement’s (AMDA) Wonder Myrthong, on Sunday refuted allegations leveled from several quarters that he had distributed money to those who had participated in the peace rally held at Laban on October 16 last.
Several newspapers had, on Saturday last, published photographs of Myrthong distributing money at the rally. Myrthong, however, maintained that the money was distributed to the vehicle owners who had transported the participants to the rally.
“As chairman of the organisation, I do not want the vehicle owners to suffer any loss. The money which I distributed was paid as hiring charges to the vehicle owners” Myrthong said in a statement released here.
On the allegation that the his organization had paid Rs.200 to each participant in the rally, Myrthong said that those who had leveled the allegation should identify themselves. “The organisation has not pain a single penny to any one who participated in the rally” Myrthong clarified adding that all the participants had attended the rally on their free will.
Thanking the participants who attended the rally, Myrthong said they had come to the rally only because they sincerely wanted to see their villagers being developed.
“Those villages and the district in general have been neglected for the last 37 years. Today, when the Government of India is offering them a chance to be developed, the people do not want to miss that chance. We want the area to be developed at the earliest,” Myrthong said .
Cautioning people not to get carried away by false propaganda, Myrthong said that “people should remain firm in their demand that the area should be developed even if it happens due to the mining of uranium”.