Mining – India
1. 'Vedanta failed to engage ethnic group on Orissa mine'
2. Jindal Steel starts mining in Bolivia
3. JSW Energy to set up power plants
4. Locals back uranium mining project in Meghalaya'
5. QMC green signal for mining trucks irks locals
6. Maoists mining govt coffers to fund rebellion
7. Maoists bandh shuts down stone mining units
Mining – International
8. Guinea confirms huge China deal
9. BHP's Spence mine workers start strike in Chile
10. Sail’s Roongta Considers Australian Coking Coal Mines
11. Hearings in 6 states on mountaintop mining changes
Other News
12. NREGA review catches hands in the till
13. Listen to Nikhil Dey, founder of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, talk about NREGA
14. Andhra wins bid for oil and gas blocks in KG basin
15. No threat from elephants: DFO
16. Tribals, farmers to get free saplings
Mining – India
‘Mines scam probe a farce’
Correspondent
________________________________________
CPI(M) calls upon cadre to prepare for agitation against price rise, naxal menace and mining scam.
________________________________________
CUTTACK: Unlike other opposition political parties in the State, CPI(M) on Monday did not ask for a CBI probe into the recent multi-crore mines scam in Orissa and instead demanded that the ongoing vigilance probe into the scam should be done in proper way.
The party, on the concluding day of its three-day workshop here on the day also deliberated on the unprecedented price rise of essential items and deteriorating agricultural scenario of the State.
Blaming the erstwhile Congress government and the Naveen Patnaik dispension in the State for the “looting” of precious minerals from Orissa over these years, CPI(M) leaders at the workshop were apprehensive that the State in next 30 years would be bereft of any mineral resources.
“It is high time we rose to the call of the hour and protect and preserve our rich mineral resources”, said the CPI9M) State secretary Janardan Pati.
Addressing the concluding session of the workshop here on Monday, Mr. Pati alleged that the present government in the State is “mindlessly” giving away mining leases to multi-national companies at throwaway prices.
He was also highly critical about the ongoing mining scam probe undertaken by the State vigilance department saying the anti-corruption wing of the police was not doing its work perfectly.
“Many political leaders and senior bureaucrats of the State are hand-in-glove with looters and the vigilance sleuths—who come under Home department headed by the Chief Minister himself, cannot lay their hands on the major players of the scam,” Mr. Pati said.
Agriculture
Senior leaders of the party said agriculture in Orissa is in doldrums leading to reports of farmers committing suicide across the State. Cut in farm subsidy and lack of adequate budgetary allocation for agriculture has contributed immensely for the present precarious situation, they said.
The party called upon its cadre to get ready for a State-wide mass agitation soon protesting against price hike, mining scam, naxal menace and State government’s attitude towards agriculture.
State CPI(M) patriarch Shivaji Patnaik presided over the concluding session of the session which was addressed among others by state committee member Jagannath Mishra and reception committee chairman and Cuttack city unit president Subash Singh.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/13/stories/2009101351720300.htm
PTI
'Vedanta failed to engage ethnic group on Orissa mine'
2009-10-13 12:02:55
London/New Delhi: A British Government agency has said the UK-based Vedanta Resources has failed to consult the indigenous community, who will be "directly affected" by the company's proposed bauxite mine at Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa.
"Vedanta failed to put in place an adequate and timely consultation mechanism fully to engage the Dongria Kondh, an indigenous community who would be directly affected by the environmental and health and safety impact of its plans, to construct a bauxite mine in the Niyamgiri Hills, Orissa, India," the agency said upholding allegations made by the NGO Survival International.
A Vedanta spokesperson when contacted said the company disagreed with the report.
"We completely disagree with the report which is based on initial finding. The project has been cleared by the Honourable Supreme Court of India and by regulatory authorities after seeing all aspects in totality," the spokesperson said.
The UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises recommends voluntary guidelines on corporate governance, adopted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for multinational enterprises.
A statement from UK National Contact Point, a part of the UK Department for Business Innovation and Skills, said it has upheld the allegations made by the NGO.
Vedanta is waiting for approvals from the Indian Government to start the mining project in Orissa.
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?a=jknmcSijjdi&title=%26%23039;Vedanta_failed_to_engage_ethnic_group_on_Orissa_mine%26%23039;
Jindal Steel starts mining in Bolivia
12 Oct 2009, 1844 hrs IST, Pramugdha Mamgain, ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: Naveen Jindal-led Jindal Steel and Power (JSPL) has begun mining at El Mutun iron mine in Bolivia and will export iron ore, a key
input in producing steel, to neighbouring countries such as Paraguay and Argentina besides China starting this month, a top company executive said.
The move will have a moderate impact on the company’s overall revenues as the company will ship small quantities initially.
"We will export only small quantities of iron ore for the next 4-5 years and that too to neighbouring economies. Going forward, thrust will be on value added products such as pellets and direct reduced iron, till we start making finished steel," said Vikrant Gujral chief executive officer at JSPL. He did not quantify how much ore will be shipped.
Mr Gujral added that it will not be feasible, in the short term, to ship the raw material back to India to feed its own steel plants as freight costs are too high.
JSPL secured the rights to mine El Mutun iron ore reserves in Bolivia in 2006. Although El Mutun has reserves of more than 40 billion tonne, making it one of the world’s biggest iron ore mines, the company holds mining rights for 20 billion tonne of reserves.
The company has lined up an investment of $2.1 billion over a 8-year period for developing the mine and setting up a steel making facility. In addition, the company will set up a 450 MW power plant to support the proposed steel plant.
JSPL has already acquired most of the land needed for the proposed 1.7 million tonne steel plant in Bolivia and will start construction work on the plant early next year.
Talking about JSPL’s growth strategy, Mr Gujral said that the company’s focus will be on South America and Africa going forward as these areas offer growth potential and access to high-quality natural resources such as coal and iron ore.
He said that South Africa offers huge opportunities in steel and power and that the company may even look at setting up a steel or a power plant there in the next few years. JSPL had recently acquired a thermal coal mine in South Africa, which has reserves of more than 50 million tonne.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/steel/Jindal-Steel-starts-mining-in-Bolivia/articleshow/5116556.cms
JSW Energy to set up power plants
Corporate Reporter
To enhance capacity to 3,140 MW by April 2011
CHENNAI: JSW Energy, a part of Sajjan Jindal-led JSW group, is planning to set up power plants in different locations by 2015.
Addressing media persons here on Monday, Pramod Menon, Chief Financial Officer, said the company, which has a 260 MW power plant in Vijayanagar since 2000, had recently commissioned the second 300 MW unit of the coal-based power plant in Vijayanagar, Karnataka, and 135 MW power plant in Barmer, Rajasthan. Earlier, in July this year, the first 300 MW unit in Vijayanagar commenced commercial operations. With the recent addition of 735 MW, the company has a capacity of 995 MW. The company was expected to increase the capacity to 3,140 MW by April 2011 and to 11,390 MW by September 2015. The new power plants would be located in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Mr. Menon said the company was intending to build an integrated energy business with a reliable fuel supply and a presence across generation, transmission, distribution and power trading through conventional and non-conventional energy sources.Total investments in the projects under construction and implementation was about Rs. 14,048 crore. Of which, Rs. 9,979 crore was expected to be funded through debt. Out of the equity portion of Rs. 4,069 core, the company would inject Rs. 2,134 crore from the proceeds of the proposed Rs. 3,000-crore initial public offer. The company had filed a draft red herring prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/13/stories/2009101361161300.htm
Locals back uranium mining project in Meghalaya'
Press Trust of India / Mawthabah (meghalaya) October 13, 2009, 14:11 IST
The Assembly Committee on Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste in Meghalaya has visited the proposed uranium mining site in the state and claimed that the locals were in favour of the project.
"We found that the land owners and locals are in favour of the project," committees chairman HDR Lyngdoh told reporters here.
The committee, comprising four MLAs, interacted with the locals here in West Khasi Hills district yesterday.
Residents and headmen of eight villages in and around the mining site were present during the interaction and they were unanimous in backing the project saying though some of them were working in UCIL there was no health hazard due to the radioactive substance.
They held placards and banners before the members of the Committee urging that Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) should take up the project at the earliest.
Speaking at the meeting, secretary of Mawthabah village, Hesting Lyngdoh Sangriang said the Department of Atomic Energy had conducted an exploratory mining in the Nongbah Jynring area in 1987-88 and locally converted the uranium upto the 'Yellow Cake' stage. Yellow Cake is milled uranium oxide, a powder obtained during one step of processing uranium ore.
"At that time about 50 people got employed with UCIL and till date they have no health problems, he said, adding that people outside the area were making all sorts of allegation that uranium mining had caused health hazards with children born with deformities.
"We are drinking the water that comes from the uranium mining site for many years and none of us is affected by the so called strange diseases as alleged," Lyngdoh Sangriang added.
The headman of New Nongtnger village Valentine Nonglang said the villages of Mawthbah have been facing only with common diseases like malaria and not those kind of diseases projected in the media.
MLA and member of the assembly committee Ronnie Lyngdoh said he suspected involvement of a lobby from outside the country in the anti-mining protests.
Lyngdoh said 'foreign forces' were not interested to see that India becoming an economic giant and super power.
"Meghalaya can contribute to the nations power requirement if uranium is allowed to be mined," Lyngdoh said.
The Assembly Committee will also visit the mining areas in Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/\locals-back-uranium-mining-project-in-meghalaya\/75848/on
QMC green signal for mining trucks irks locals
TNN 13 October 2009, 07:43am IST
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MARGAO: Apparently bowing to pressure from the mining lobby and the mineral ore transporters association, the Quepem Municipal Council (QMC)
finally granted permission for the movement of mining trucks through the town, much to the chagrin of the residents.
At its meeting held recently, the QMC, after deliberating at length on a letter by the mineral ore transporters' association requesting that mining trucks be allowed to ply through Quepem, adopted a resolution granting "conditional approval" for movement of mining trucks. The municipal council has warned transporters that the approval would stand withdrawn if the transporters were found flouting guidelines framed by the transport department with regards to mineral ore transportation.
It may be noted that the QMC had taken a tough stand against mineral ore transportation through the thoroughfares of Quepem, with the city fathers pledging their support to the residents in the anti-mining transport agitation. The Quepem residents had threatened to block all mining transportation through the town on the grounds that haphazard mining transportation through the town posed safety hazard to the lives of the people, besides causing intolerable dust and noise pollution.
Interestingly, the Quepem MLA, Chandrakant Kavlekar, had also expressed his strong disapproval over the movement of mining trucks through Quepem and had blamed the transporters for their failure in prevailing upon the government to construct a bypass road for mining transportation.
Justifying its change in stance, the chairperson of the QMC, Lydia D'Costa, stated that the livelihoods of many Quepem residents were dependent on transport business and thus any decision to bar movement of trucks without making any alternative arrangements for transportation would amount to injustice on the locals.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/QMC-green-signal-for-mining-trucks-irks-locals/articleshow/5118093.cms
Maoists mining govt coffers to fund rebellion
Gyan Varma / DNA
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 3:09 IST
New Delhi: The Maoists are taking a cut from government contracts awarded in their areas of influence, in effect making the taxpayer fund their activities. Security agencies estimate the amount to be between Rs1,400 crore and Rs1,600 crore annually, a substantial portion of which is used for procuring -- and even manufacturing -- arms.
• Maoists will now be confronted, warns P Chidambaram
The rebels have institutionalised the system in Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Orissa, states awash with contracts for mining, logging and road works. Contractors for coal mining are made to pay 20-30% of their earnings and for roads 15-20% of the contract amount.
"The percentage of the cut is decided by senior Maoist members and the task of collecting the amount is the district commander's," said a senior Union home ministry official. "We came to know of the rates through the contractors and arrested Maoists. The rebels also charge from truck drivers; depending on the size of the load, the amount is Rs100-150."
He said when it came to logging for catechu -- an Acacia extract used in tanning besides other things -- the workers are paid so little that they contact local Maoist commanders and ask them to extort money from contractors. "The businessmen dealing in catechu are often threatened by the Maoists, but sometimes it is their own fault. They bribe local government officials to exceed their contract quotas."
On arms procurement by the Maoists, Ajai Sahni, executive director, Institute of Conflict Management, said: "It has been established that northeast-based terrorists have supplied arms to the rebels."
Sahni said, "The weapons are bought from Southeast Asian countries and smuggled inside India through Bangladesh. Ulfa (United Liberation Front of Asom) is one of the organisations doing business with the Maoists."
Sahni said the Maoists have used funds to start arms manufacturing units and give contracts for developing rocket launchers. "Several businessmen were contacted [by the Maoists] in the past to make rocket launcher parts."
Recently, a factory making weapons for the Maoists was busted in Chhattisgarh; similar factories have been discovered in Bihar and Jharkhand as well. During encounters in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh in the past two years, security forces have recovered Chinese, American, Israeli and Belgian guns, small arms, rifles and grenade launchers. Home ministry officials say of 230 weapons seized, about 80 are Chinese.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_maoists-mining-govt-coffers-to-fund-rebellion_1298317
Maoists bandh shuts down stone mining units
Rajesh Kumar Pandey, TNN 12 October 2009, 08:19pm IST
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DUMKA: Maoists enforced the closure of hundreds of stone mining and crusher units situated in the vast stretch under Shikaripara block of Dumka
district by putting up posters on Monday, the first day of the two-day bandh called by them.
CPI(Maoist) posters, put up at various places in Pindargarhia and Haripur Chowk, have warned the owners of the stone mine and crusher units to support the bandh failing which they would have to face dire consequences.
Accoridng to reports, the Maoist warning had its impact on the adjoining localities of the block where the stone industry provides the ultimate source of livelihood to the thousands of local labourers.
Shikaripara is perhaps the worst affected with the Maoists having launched major offensives on previous occasions. The stone industry is also reported to be one of the major sources of levy earner for the Maoists and its closure is likely to continue on the subsequent day of the bandh call.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Maoists-bandh-shuts-down-stone-mining-units/articleshow/5116593.cms
Mining – International
Guinea confirms huge China deal
Guinea says the deal will help the nation's poorest people
Guinea's military rulers have agreed a huge mining and oil deal with China, officials have told the BBC, amid continuing criticism of the junta.
Guinean Mines Minister Mahmoud Thiam said a Chinese firm would invest more than $7bn (£4.5bn) in infrastructure.
In return, he said the firm would be a "strategic partner" in all mining projects in the mineral-rich nation.
Guineans are currently on strike to remember dozens of protesters killed by soldiers during a rally two weeks ago.
CHINA IN AFRICA
China is Africa's second-biggest trading partner, behind US
Between 2002 and 2003 two-way trade doubles to $18.5bn
By 2008 trade tops $100bn - China exports $51bn, imports $56bn
Almost all imports come from oil-rich nations: Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, and Sudan
Sources: China Daily, Reuters, Council on Foreign Relations
Learn Chinese for free... in Liberia
China praised for African links
The shootings were widely condemned by international leaders and opposition groups within Guinea.
Agricultural Minister Abdourahmane Sano resigned on Monday, saying he could no longer show solidarity with the government.
And the president of West Africa's economic bloc, Ecowas, warned that the country was in danger of slipping into another dictatorship.
There are widespread calls for junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara to step down.
After last December's coup he promised to lead a transitional government and hand power back to civilians after an election scheduled for January 2010.
But there has been growing anger at reports that he intends to stand for president.
'Placing foundations'
China has been praised recently by think-tanks and African leaders for choosing to invest in infrastructure and business in Africa, rather than doling out aid money.
CAPT MOUSSA DADIS CAMARA
Seized power in December 2008 as a little-known army captain
Promised democracy, but now shows signs of holding on to power
Increasingly erratic behaviour and public humiliation of officials
Guinea's erratic military ruler
Guinea under Camara: Story so far
Eyewitness: 'Bodies were falling'
But analysts say the timing of the Guinea deal is likely to stir controversy, as the legitimacy of Guinea's government is under question.
Mr Thiam dismissed those concerns, saying the government is trying only to help the people.
"We are all in a transition, putting down foundations. We hope that the government that follows us will follow suit," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
He did not name the firm involved, but said it was the same firm that has invested billions in Angola - the Hong Kong registered China International Fund.
He said the firm would help build ports, railway lines, power plants, low-cost housing and even a new administrative centre in the capital, Conakry.
He said a national mining firm would be set up, with the Chinese company becoming "strategic partners".
"All the government's stakes in various mining projects will be put in that mining company. Future mining permits or concessions that the government decided to develop on its own will be put in that company," he said.
Guinea is thought to have the world's largest reserves of the aluminium ore, bauxite.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8304418.stm
BHP's Spence mine workers start strike in Chile
Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:14am EDT
(Updates with strike, adds details and background)
By Antonio de la Jara
SANTIAGO, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Union workers at BHP Billiton's (BHP.AX) (BLT.L) Spence copper mine in Chile went on strike Tuesday after rejecting a wage offer, the union president told Reuters.
The stoppage at the mine, which produced 164,761 tonnes of copper cathodes in 2008, could stoke fears of supply disruptions of the red metal and lift copper prices that have seen a steep recovery so far this year.
The strike marks the start of difficult labor talks in the world's top copper producer, Chile, as other key mines approach the expiration of their collective contracts with workers. [ID:nN12141987]
A BHP spokesman in Chile was not immediately available for comment. It was not clear what impact the strike could have on production.
The 560-member union on Monday voted to strike after scraping the company's final offer that a union leader called "insufficient."
A steep recovery in copper prices has encouraged mine workers across the globe to demand a bigger share of mining companies' profits and has raised the specter of supply disruptions.
Labor strife in Chile, which produces about a third of the world's copper, could force smelters in other parts of the world to reduce output and cut fees. [ID:nT351744] (Additional reporting by Alonso Soto; Editing by John Picinich)
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1317165620091013
Sail’s Roongta Considers Australian Coking Coal Mines
By Rebecca Keenan
Oct. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Steel Authority of India Ltd., the nation’s biggest state-run producer, said it is considering buying coking coal mines in Australia, Indonesia and Mozambique with an Indian government joint venture.
“We are looking at several opportunities but I can’t discuss the names,” S.K. Roongta, chairman of the New Delhi- based company, said in an interview in Beijing today. “I can’t set a timeline but we would like it to happen at the earliest.”
Steel Authority, one of five companies in the International Coal Ventures Private Ltd. venture, is boosting steel output to meet domestic demand that will continue to grow, Roongta said. Steel demand in India may rise 8.9 percent in 2009 and 12.1 percent in 2010, the World Steel Association said yesterday.
“India will continue to grow for years because we are a developing country,” Roongta said. “I don’t see, in the near future, steel demand leveling off.”
International Coal Ventures Private also includes Coal India Ltd., Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd., National Mineral Development Corp. and NTPC Ltd., according to the venture’s Web site. The venture has $750 million in capital and $1.5 billion in borrowings, and plans to spend $2.2 billion to investments, Roongta said.
Steel Authority is in talks with the Indian government to be allotted the entire Chiria iron ore mine, Roongta said today. There were no other companies involved in the mine, he said.
The company’s crude steel output will be 14 million tons in the year ending June 30 2010, increasing to 15 million tons the following year, he said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Rebecca Keenan in Melbourne atrkeenan5@bloomberg.net
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aMqUjAnstoJo
Hearings in 6 states on mountaintop mining changes
The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Big turnouts are expected at a series of hearings on a federal proposal to ban or at least suspend a streamlined permitting process for Appalachian surface coal mines.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues the permits and is holding hearings on the idea in West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee on Tuesday. Sessions are set for Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia on Thursday.
The corps is reacting to a decision by the Obama administration in June to try eliminate the streamlined process as part of a broader effort to curb surface mining in the region. Either option would force mines to seek individual permits.
Environmentalists and pro-coal forces see the debate as the latest battle over mountaintop mining, a highly efficient method that environmentalists say is too destructive.
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20091013_ap_hearingsin6statesonmountaintopminingchanges.html
'SA must have plan as mining declines'
October 13, 2009
Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni has called for greater diversification in South Africa's economy as one day, mineral resources will be depleted and the country will have to depend on other economic activities.
Speaking at the 12th Kgosi Edward Patrick Lebone Molotlegi Annual Memorial Lecture, Phokeng, at the weekend, he said that South Africa was once a global leader in gold mining and gold constituted well over fifty percent of South African exports, but had since given up this mantle.
"South Africa has been overtaken by China as the world's number one gold producer. This is largely due to gold reserves in this country being depleted and what little is left getting more and more difficult to extract as mining becomes a deeper and deeper activity and, therefore, too costly and a high risk effort," he said.
"It is today a misnomer to speak of Johannesburg as the city of gold as there is no more gold mining in the city other than the reprocessing of those mine dumps," he said.
Mboweni marvelled at countries that do not have the benefit of mineral resources, but have done wonders for themselves.
"Take a city-state like Singapore which does not have any mineral resources, let alone enough land for agriculture, but has managed to develop to such impressive levels (a high income status).
"Opening a Human Capital Summit recently, the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, said: 'For a small country like Singapore, acquiring and nurturing human talent is a matter of survival. Without much of anything else, we rely on human ingenuity and effort to build our economy and society. We have therefore made major investments in education, lifelong learning and talent development.'
"In fact, the major manufacturing centres of Asia, such as Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, have few or no significant natural resources. South Korea, for example, was at almost the same level of development as Ghana 50 years ago."
"While the latter is well endowed with natural resources and has recently discovered oil, South Korea has none of these but has successfully grown its economy to be ranked 14th by GDP at purchasing power parity."
"We seem, as Africans, to have been satisfied to continue as 'extractive economies'," cautioned Mboweni.
"Endowment with natural resources should spur even larger investment in expanding the talent pool," he concluded. - I-Net Bridge
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=552&fArticleId=5200767
Other News
NREGA review catches hands in the till
The first phase of the audit in Bhilwara district has revealed irregularities and corruption relating to the use of sub-standard materials, the use of machinery instead of manual labour and the non-issuance of job cards, needed to ensure that the right people are being paid
Bhilwara, Rajasthan: Badliyas panchayat in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district has a sarpanch, or headman, filled with contrition. Dashrat Singh not only wrote a cheque of Rs1.3 lakh giving money back to the panchayat, but he also swore an oath in writing that he wouldn’t ever make the mistake of trying to pocket money meant for the government’s rural jobs programme.
Curbing corruption: Women queue up with complaints in Baran village of Bhilwara district. As many as 12 FIRs have been filed in the district against government officials as a result of the audit. Ajit Kumar / Mint
The money had been sanctioned to the panchayat for road construction under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (NREGA), which forms the centrepiece of the government’s welfare programmes and is considered key to the success of the United Progressive Alliance in elections earlier this year.
Singh was caught because of one of the things that makes the programme unique—social audits that allow non-governmental organizations to run checks on the programme.
The audits, it would appear, actually seem to work.
The first phase of the audit in Bhilwara district that started on 1 October has revealed irregularities and corruption relating to the use of sub-standard materials, the use of machinery instead of manual labour and the non-issuance of job cards, needed to ensure that the right people are being paid.
As many as 12 first information reports or FIRs—filed by the police department in crimes, these reports recognize that one has been committed—have been filed in the district against government officials as a result of the audit. Punishment will follow, says the state official in charge of the programme in the state.
Listen to Nikhil Dey, founder of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, talk about NREGA
Download link here
“There will be FIRs, charge-sheets, suspensions and terminations against corrupt officials, whether at panchayat level, block level or state level,” said Rajendra Bhanawat, Rajasthan’s NREGA commissioner. “We can’t really hang them, but we will do what we can to undo what has happened.”
Panchayats and blocks are administrative units.
The results of such audits are put up for public display.
Villagers recently queued up for a chance to speak about similar issues at a meeting at Baran village of Banera panchayat. The walls of the local school were covered in posters made by the villagers listing the various irregularities found in the social audit.
Ram Niwas Mehta, Rajasthan’s NREGA project director, who likened the Dashrat Singh episode to a Bollywood plot, said the audit was forcing officials to learn the programme’s stringent accountability rules.
Mehta showed Mint a letter in which a NREGA programme officer wrote that he had no idea that he had to account for payments made for purchases. He was also not aware that he couldn’t issue non-account payee cheques or that he needed to put dates on all receipts.
http://www.livemint.com/2009/10/12234958/NREGA-review-catches-hands-in.html?h=B
Andhra wins bid for oil and gas blocks in KG basin
K. Venkateshwarlu
HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh achieved a significant breakthrough in its quest to have a pie in the Krishna-Godavari Basin when it successfully won the bid for oil and gas blocks through the eighth round of the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) in the auction held in New Delhi on Monday.
The newly-formed Andhra Pradesh Gas Infrastructure Corporation (APGIC, a joint venture of AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation and AP Genco) participated in the auction as part of the ONGC-led consortium for all the five blocks. The success meant Andhra Pradesh has become the second State in the country after Gujarat to bid for the oil and gas blocks through NELP.
The consortium won the bid for a deep water block (D6) with projected investment in the next five years expected to be Rs. 200 crore for seismic survey, APGIC’s contribution being Rs. 20 crore. Of the four shallow water blocks, the consortium won three, while the remaining one was won by Cairn Energy. The projected investment in these blocks is estimated to be Rs. 1,400 crore in the next four years and the APGIC’s contribution would be Rs.140 crore. ONGC is the lead partner of the consortium with 40 per cent stake, British Gas 35 per cent, Oil India 15 per cent and APGIC 10 per cent.
“It is a major achievement for just over a month-old APGIC having been incorporated on September 2,” an elated B. P. Acharya, chairman and managing director of APIIC told The Hindu. Explaining the minor stake as strategic, Mr. Acharya said the consortium with the presence of big companies will bring in the required technical expertise to expedite exploration in KG basin area and optimise gas utilisation in the State.
Sources said it was on the advice of the experts that the State finalised this strategy of participating in the bidding process as a partner.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/13/stories/2009101355210900.htm
No threat from elephants: DFO
Correspondent
VIZIANAGARAM: Following information on movement of six wild elephants at Kothakota forest in Veeraghattam mandal in Srikakulam district, Minister for Panchayat Raj Botcha Satyanarayana on Monday asked U. Govinda Rao, Divisional Forest Officer, to take precautionary steps because the elephants had in the past trampled 11 persons in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. Mr. Govinda Rao informed him that two special teams had already been constituted to tackle the menace.
Later, the DFO told reporters that “enough food” was available at China Kotipalli and Peda Kotipalli villages and the animals would not cross into Jiyyammavalasa mandal in the district, as feared by some. He cautioned people not to tease the animals even if they saw them at a distance. The DFO said that kin of all the killed were paid ex-gratia besides Rs. 8.81 lakhs towards crop damage to farmers.
To a question, he said that there was no information received on the proposed ‘elephant zone’ in the agency region.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/13/stories/2009101351910300.htm
Tribals, farmers to get free saplings
Special Correspondent
Move to prevent global warming and increase forest cover
— Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan
Save earth: TAFSE state convener A. Rangnathan (right) distributing saplings at a conference on World Earth Day in Salem on Monday.
SALEM: Various speakers, environmentalists and social scientists spoke in detail on the ills of environmental degradation and global warming at a seminar on Tribals’ Earth Day here on Monday.
Organised jointly by Village Reconstruction and Development Project (VRDP) in association with Tribal Association for Fifth Schedule Campaign (TAFSE) and Thamilaga Adivasi Amaipugalin Kootamaippu (TAAK), the participants in the seminar highlighted the various forms of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Alienation of forests from tribals had been one of the major reasons for today’s environmental degradation.
The tribals had decided to save the earth from such activities at the World Social Forum meeting last year. They also had decided to join hands with those who fought for protection of the environment.
Hence to prevent global warming and to increase the forest cover, the VRDP had decided to distribute one lakh saplings to tribal settlements.
Under the first phase, 30,000 saplings would be distributed to tribals and farmers in Arunoothumalai and another 30,000 for Javvathu hill dwellers.
By this year end, one lakh saplings would be distributed to all the hill dwellers. They also decided to strengthen the village sabhas in tribal areas. The participants decided to create consumer shandies locally so that tribals need not carry their produce to distant places. The grass root-level participation must be encouraged in administration of local democracy. Awareness on environmental degradation had to be pepped up.
They also insisted that all development schemes carried out in and near forest areas should be carried out after consulting tribal groups.
The Forest Rights Act should be implemented fully in Tamil Nadu. VRDP’s A. Ranganathan distributed saplings. .
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/13/stories/2009101351330300.htm
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