05-11-09

Mining – India 1
1. Koda's home sealed, hidden stash traced 1
• Ex-CM Madhu Koda out of ICU, arrest imminent 2
• Searches against Koda, associates continue second day 2
2. TD demands removal of Mines DG 4
3. Koda moments galore in mines allotment 5
4. ArcelorMittal in talks with Jharkhand for Chiria mines 6
5. BJP national team to visit Keonjhar 7
Mining – International 8
6. Picketing now at four mines, workers stop all production 8
7. Reclamation, Zimbabwe Plan Gem Mine on Site of Atrocities 9
8. Signing of Ecuador new mining law means even good news for IAMGOLD 11
9. Canada's B2Gold gives 2010 gold production update 12
10. New regs create need for additional mine inspectors 13
11. Major joint mining project testifies to milestone in China, Papua New Guinea cooperation 15
12. Zim mines minister says they have met Kimberley Process requirements 18
Other News 19
13. Where have all the CMs gone? 19
14. Act to protect rights of forest dwellers 21
15. Govt ‘unaware’ on NREGA blunder 22
16. Land rights to tribals not enough’ 23
17. Engineers booked for committing fraud 24

Mining – India


Koda's home sealed, hidden stash traced

Arunima / CNN-IBN
Published on Wed, Nov 04, 2009 at 21:16, Updated on Thu, Nov 05, 2009 at 01:01 in Politics section
Tags: Madhu Koda, Enforcement Directorate , New Delhi
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IN THE DOCK: Questions are also being raised over Arjun Munda's involvement in the scam now.

• Ex-CM Madhu Koda out of ICU, arrest imminent
• Searches against Koda, associates continue second day

New Delhi: Once the most visited address of Ranchi, the residence of the ex-chief minister,Madhu Koda, in the Jharkhand capital now stands sealed.
On Wednesday, two note counting machines were recovered from Koda'a residence and it was also revealed that his Chartered Accountant's personal computer has been reformatted, leading to a loss of possible evidence.
Soon after, the Income Tax department sealed his house.
CNN-IBN has now learnt Koda admitted during his interrogation that he stashed away Rs 375 crore in various Swiss bank accounts. The net worth of his Hawala trail is suspected to be close to Rs 2,000 crore.
Meanwhile, documents submitted in the Ranchi High Court - allegedly giving details of Koda'a various benami investments - threw up some interesting names, including the name of the Mumbai Congress Chief, Kripashankar Singh and former railway minister and RJD leader, Lalu Prasad.
 Koda's aides under the scanner in money scam
 Koda's house sealed, 'Swiss accounts traced'
 Profile: The rise and fall of Madhu Koda
 Watch: Cash, lies and Madhu Koda
The petitioner's lawyer, Rajiv Kumar says, "The Income Tax department has raided the places according to the information that we have in the documents with us.
The people mentioned are those who played an important role in the formation of the government in the state of Jharkhand. These documents were recovered from Madhu Koda's close associates, Binod Sinha and Sanjay Chaudhary.
Questions are also being raised over Arjun Munda's involvement in the scam now. Munda was the chief minister when Koda was made the mines minister in the state.
The ED is now trying to tie all loose ends of the case and has summoned Koda and seven of his associates.
Koda who is still in a Ranchi hospital, citing ill health, is being regularly monitored with the investigators asking doctors to provide regular updates on his health. The message is clear - a stomach ailment wont be able to save the ex-chief minister of Jharkhand from facing the music for long.
HOW DID MADHU KODA BECOME A BILLIONARE FROM BEING A SIMPLE LABOURER IN JHARKHAND?
Koda allegedly played with huge sums of money to increase his empire not only in India but all over the world.
It all began in Ranchi where Koda is accused of having made at least Rs 300 crore through illegal dealings. His father lives in a thatched house in a village but Koda has investments in property in Ranchi itself to the tune of Rs 200 crore.
200 kms away in Jamshedpur, his friend Binod Sinha was making investments in sponge iron mills worth Rs 18 crore and rolling mills worth Rs 13 crore. Investigators say all this was done with Koda's money.
In Uttar Pradesh, Koda allegedly found a novel way of converting black money into white - by investing in government schemes. Investigators allege that Rs 600 crore is what was pumped into the Rajiv Gandhielectrification project in the state of UP.
Mumbai was fanning Koda's dreams as well. This was allegedly his preferred destination for investments. With alleged help of a private firm named Balaji Bullion and retailers, Koda's aides managed to invest huge sums in stock markets, property and real estate in various parts of the city.
From Mumbai, Koda's empire allegedly fanned out internationally to several parts of the world. In Dubai - with the help of Abdul Bhai - almost Rs 1000 crore has allegedly been invested in shopping malls and real estate.
In Thailand, investments and joint ventures were allegedly made in hotels and casinos to the tune of Rs 500 crore.
In Liberia, Koda - then mines minister in Jharkhand - was allegedly busy building his own mines worth Rs 900 crore.
PROMINENT POLITICIANS LINKED TO CORRUPTION SCAMS

NATWAR SINGH: Accused of procurement of contracts in the United Nations' Oil-for-Food programme in Iraq in 2005

CHAGAN BHUJBAL: Accused of involvement in Telgi fake stamp paper scam worth Rs 3,000 crore in 2003

LALU PRASAD: Charged with embezzling state funds intended for animal fodder to the tune of Rs 950 crore

SUKHRAM: Accused of irregularities in awarding Telecom contracts in 1996

LK ADVANI, ARJUN SINGH, VC SHUKLA, MADHAV RAO SCINDIA: In 1993 all of them were accused of receiving payments through Hawala brokers in the Jain Hawala scandal
(With inputs from Jayshankar in Ranchi)


TD demands removal of Mines DG




Express News Service
First Published : 05 Nov 2009 02:43:00 AM IST

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party leader A Revanth Reddy today demanded that the director general of Mines VD Rajagopal be removed from the post. Speaking to reporters here today, he said that Rajagopal who held the post of NMDC MD as well, had a relative who was employed in the Obulapuram Mining Company. How could an officer hold two important posts in such a sensitive context, Revanth Reddy asked.
He went on to say that there were 50 contempt of court cases against Rajagopal.
“The TDP had thought that Rosaiah would remove him from the posts, but he is apparently also oblivious to corruption, like his predecessor, YS Rajasekhara Reddy,’’ he alleged.
Another leader, S Venugopalachary, demanded that Rajagopal be prosecuted and dismissed from service. He also called for a visit by an all-party team to the OMC area. At a separate press conference, TDP leader N Janardhan Reddy alleged that minister J Krishna Rao had encroached on six acres of temple land in Pedda Dagada village in Veepanagandla mandal in Mahaboobnagar.
He said ministers were “knee-deep’’ in corruption and the State Government should order a probe against such persons. “Chief Minister Rosaiah should tell the people how many Madhu Kodas there are in his Cabinet,’’ Janardhan Reddy quipped.


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Koda moments galore in mines allotment
4 Nov 2009, 2151 hrs IST, Navtan Kumar, ET Bureau

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RANCHI: The I-T department raids on former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda and his associates have brought to light huge transactions in the

form of kickback for mines allotment. The department, along with the enforcement directorate (ED), has been raiding Mr Koda’s houses and those of his associates, over the past four days. So far, it has raided 70 locations all over the country. The move followed ED lodging a case against Mr Koda under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

According to a source, a few more politicians and IAS officers, who connived with Mr Koda in these shady deals, are under I-T scanner. Besides Koda’s aides, the department has already raided the premises of businessmen, hawala operators and also a journalist.

The officials on Wednesday sealed the official residence of Mr Koda in Chaibasa. Mr Koda has been admitted to Apollo Hospital following complaints of stomach pain and high blood pressure. High-level teams from both I-T and ED are camping in Ranchi in connection with the raids.

Though I-T officials refused to divulge names of the companies, they said Mr Koda earned huge amount of money in lieu of allotting mines to them, which have signed MoUs with the state government to set up steel and power plants. Mr Koda, ever since the formation of Jharkhand in November 2000, had been holding the charge of mines department, irrespective of whether it was Babulal Marandi or Arjun Munda-led governments or he himself as chief minister for about two years till August 2008.

The state government during this period, said a source, sent 16 recommendations for mines allotment. Besides, Mr Koda is also alleged to have made money towards awarding of various contracts and transfer-posting. I-T director investigation, Ujjwal Chaudhary, said transactions worth Rs 2,000-crore were carried out by Mr Koda and his close aides —Binod Sinha and Sanjay Chaudhary — during his tenure as mines minister and CM. He also said about Rs 25 crore was pumped into closed Indo Asahi Glass Company at Ramgarh for its revival.

"We have also found evidence of investment of Rs 1,200-1,300 crore by Mr Koda and company in Balajee Group of Companies," he said, adding, besides there is also evidence of transaction of more than Rs 400 crore to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesiaand UAE, through hawala operators. The IT- sleuths are now trying to ascertain whether Mr Koda made quiet foreign visits and deposited money in Swiss banks.



http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Koda-moments-galore-in-mines-allotment/articleshow/5197343.cms


ArcelorMittal in talks with Jharkhand for Chiria mines
Source: IRIS NEWS DIGEST (05-NOV-09)

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ArcelorMittal, which has lined up Rs 1000 billion investments for India, said it is in the race for a chunk of the mineral-rich Chiria mines in Jharkhand, reports Business Standard.
The Chiria mines, with reserves of 2 billion tons of high-grade iron ore, have been at the centre of an ownership battle for over four years.
The mines were originally allotted to Indian Iron & Steel Company, which was merged with SAIL in 2005.
While SAIL claims the ownership of the Chiria reserves by virtue of the merger, the Jharkhand government disputes it.
The differences pertain mainly to the renewal of 4 leases out of 10 iron ore mines in the Chiria and Gua region.
Besides ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel and JSW Steel have been eyeing the huge Chiria reserves and want rights to mine these.


http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/storyShow.php?fileR=20091105091235203&dir=2009/11/05&secID=livenews

BJP national team to visit Keonjhar


BJP national secretary Balbir Punj and senior BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha member Chandan Mitra being greeted by Orissa BJP unit members on their

Express News Service
First Published : 05 Nov 2009 03:38:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 05 Nov 2009 08:57:17 AM IST

BHUBANESWAR: A four-member central team of the BJP visited Keonjhar district today to get first hand information about the multi-crore mining scam.
The fact-finding team headed by national secretary of the party and MP Balbir K Punj will visit several mining areas in Joda and Barbil tomorrow for an on-the-spot assessment of the magnitude of the scam. The team accompanied by a group of State leaders will also interact with mine owners and local people.
The party will raise the issue in the ensuing winter session of Parliament and press for a CBI inquiry as the State Vigilance is incompetent to probe a scam of this magnitude, Punj told mediapersons before leaving for Keonjhar.
The rampant theft of the non-renewable and precious minerals is not only a loss to Orissa but to the nation, he said.
Senior BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha member Chandan Mitra, a member of the delegation, said the purpose of visit of the team is to collect evidence on the multi-crore scam. The party will make it a national issue and demand a CBI probe as several top leaders of the State are involved in the loot.
As many top-notch politicians of the ruling BJD are involved in the scam, the State Vigilance will not be able to unearth the truth. The matter should be handed over to an independent central agency, preferably CBI, for investigation, he said.
Illegal mining activities were rampant till the BJP blew the lid off the scam in the last session of the Assembly. Mining activities have come to a grinding halt after the scam rocked the State leading to the arrest of several Government officers and persons involved in illegal mining.
The team will also visit the proposed Vedanta University site in Puri district on November 6. The saffron party has been opposing the university project as the Government is acquiring 6,000 acres in the ecologically sensitive coastal belt.
BJP Parliament members GP Mishra and RP Singh are the two other members of the team. State BJP president Suresh Pujari, BJP Legislature Party leader KV Singhdeo, former Union minister Jual Oram, national secretary Dharmendra Pradhan, former minister Manmohan Samal and several other State leaders accompanied the team to Keonjhar. Steel and Mines Minister Rahunath Mohanty, however, described the visit of BJP team as politically motivated and dismissed their demand for a CBI probe saying that the State Vigilance is doing a good job.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=BJP+national+team+to+visit+Keonjhar&artid=W|YDKu4H/Ws=&SectionID=mvKkT3vj5ZA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=nUFeEOBkuKw=&SEO=
Mining – International

Picketing now at four mines, workers stop all production
Andrea Deuchrass | Thursday November 5 2009 - 01:50pm
Solid Energy now has about 1000 workers either locked out or on strike, affecting its total production across the country.
Yesterday, the SOE said mediation talks in Hamilton (where the dispute began) had failed.
Chief operating officer Barry Bragg said Solid Energy was motivated to resume talks and had asked the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) to lift the current industrial action.
“We want to get back to the bargaining table with the union, but we can’t bargain in good faith when there is ongoing industrial action.
“We’re disappointed that while the union says it wants to resume talks, it won’t lift the industrial action. We’re at an impasse.”
Today, the EPMU said Spring Creek miners near Greymouth were the latest to join in picketing action, bringing the total number to nearly 1000 around the country with picketing at all four of its mines.
EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O’Connell said the miners were strikingin support of Rotowaro miners and addressing concerns about Solid Energy’scontracting model.
“This action was sparked by the heavy-handed suspension of our members in Rotowaro by one of Solid Energy’s contractors [HWE Mining] but there are other concerns at mines across the country, in particular the company’s use of contractors to undermine terms and conditions in the industry,” he said.
“Solid Energy has tried to wash its hands of any responsibility for the conditions at its opencast mines by making back room arrangements with its contractors.
“Rather than cutting deals with its contractors and then leaving them to tell our members there’s no money available, Solid Energy needs to front up to the table and negotiate in good faith.
“All we want to do is sit down with Solid Energy and its contractors and negotiate a fair industry agreement without any game-playing.”
The four mines involved in the dispute are Huntly’s Rotowaro and Huntly East mines, Stockton mine near Westport, and the Spring Creek mine near Greymouth.
All mines were covered by the same multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) and fully unionised, which means all of Solid Energy’s production effectively stopped as of today, the EPMU said.
Yesterday, Solid Energy told NBR it was willing to resolve the dispute but would not talk in detail or specifically about its contractors.


http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/picketing-now-four-mines-workers-stop-all-production-114529


Reclamation, Zimbabwe Plan Gem Mine on Site of Atrocities
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By Carli Lourens and Brian Latham
Nov. 5 (Bloomberg) -- New Reclamation Group Ltd. plans to form a venture with Zimbabwe to mine diamonds from a deposit that human rights groups have said has been the site of military atrocities, a copy of the agreement shows.
New Reclamation, a Johannesburg scrap metal company part owned by Old Mutual Plc, will manage mining on the deposit through its at least 50 percent owned Grandwell Holdings Ltd. in partnership with Marange Resources Ltd., a unit of the state- owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corp. Two members of the decision making body of President Robert Mugabe’s political party confirmed the terms of the agreement, declining to be identified because it is confidential.
Marange, as the deposit is known, was seized by the government from Maidstone, England-based African Consolidated Resources Plc in 2006 after gems were found. As many as 20,000 illegal miners besieged the area, also known as Chiadzwa, and were later cleared off by the army and police. New York-based Human Rights Watch says more than 200 were killed last year. Zimbabwe’s police say they have had no reports of atrocities. New Reclamation and Zimbabwe’s mines minister didn’t return calls.
“Marange wishes to strategically partner with Grandwell, which shall provide funding” to help mine and market diamonds, according to the July 21 agreement, which is signed by New Reclamation, ZMDC, Grandwell and Marange.
The Zimbabwe High Court on Sept. 24 confirmed the title of African Consolidated to claims on the field. The U.K. company has said it is seeking the return of its concession.
‘Preparing to Mine’
“Reclamation is preparing to mine in our concession area,” Andrew Cranswick, the chief executive officer of African Consolidated, said in a phone interview from Zimbabwe. “They’re preparing to start mining next week.”
The area allocated to New Reclamation overlaps with African Consolidated’s claim, he added.
The Kimberley Process, a global body created to curb trade in gems mined to fund conflict, is deciding whether to keep Zimbabwe as a member after a mission visited the Southern African country in May, when it investigated claims of diamond smuggling and related violence from Marange. The World Diamond Council said on Aug. 26 that it will call for the removal of Zimbabwe from the Kimberley Process unless it controls the supply of diamonds from the field.
Grandwell, registered in Mauritius, will provide as much as $100 million toward mining the deposit, the agreement states, adding that the shareholders of Reclamation will need to approve the project.
Investors Deterred
New Reclamation’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Movsas, through his personal assistant, declined to speak to Bloomberg News and was said to be unavailable when subsequent calls were made. Calls to the office and mobile phones of Obert Mpofu, Zimbabwe’s mines minister, weren’t answered while four calls to ZMDC didn’t connect.
Lynn Bolin, a Cape Town-based spokeswoman for Old Mutual, which owns 5.28 percent of New Reclamation, referred questions back to the New Reclamation.
New Reclamation, southern Africa’s biggest scrap metal company, sold 253 million euros ($375 million) of bonds due in 2013 in January 2006. It processes ferrous and non-ferrous metal as well as glass, plastic and paper waste and employs more than 2,000 people according to its Web site.
Zimbabwe, which is trying to recover from a decade-long recession, is trying to attract foreign investment even as a dispute between Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front and the Movement for Democratic Change threatens to dismantle a coalition government set up in February deter investors.
To contact the reporters on this story: Carli Lourens in Johannesburg atclourens@bloomberg.net. Brian Latham in Durban, South Africa atblatham@bloomberg.net.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aHsDJbPt7eSQ



ECORD NET INCOME OF $170.8M
Signing of Ecuador new mining law means even more good news for IAMGOLD
IAMGOLD's CEO Joseph Conway says the company is ready to resume activity at its Quimsacocha project in Ecuador as a new mining law was signed by Ecuador's President Correa.
Author: Dorothy Kosich
Posted: Thursday , 05 Nov 2009
RENO, NV -
As IAMGOLD CEO Joseph Conway delivered a conference call presentation Wednesday including his company's record earnings, Ecuador's President Rafael Correa signed the mining law reform that could help IAMGOLD and other companies set the stage for gold, copper and silver production.
IAMGOLD says it is ready to resume activity at the Quimsacocha gold, silver and copper project. Once an authorization is received from the Ecuadorian government, a feasibility study and an environmental assessment are expected within 12 months.
Over a 7.5-year mine life, Quimsacocha is expected to produce 202,000 ounces of gold, one million ounces of silver and 9.3 million pounds of copper annually. IAMGOLD hopes to begin first production in 2012, the same time Correa said Ecuador will begin mineral exports.
IAMGOLD, Kinross Gold, and Corriente Resources have Ecuador's three largest mining projects. The new Mining Law signed Wednesday stresses responsible mining and provides for taxation including a royalty rate of not less than 5% on gold production.
Meanwhile, Conway told analysts IAMGOLD achieved record net earnings of $64.9 million or 18-cents per share during the third quarter. Another record was achieved by the Rosebel mine in Suriname which recorded record production for the quarter of 106,000 gold ounces, a 29% increase over 2008.
Because of the Rosebel production and the extended life of the Doyon gold mine in Quebec, the company increased its gold production guidance to between 940,000 and 950,000 ounces for this year compared to the second-quarter update of between 910,000 and 920,000 ounces. Despite the Rosebel record production, IAMGOLD's production during the third quarter actually dropped by 9,000 ounces or 4% to 244,000 ounces. For the first nine months of this year, overall gold output dropped from 742,000 ounces in 2008 to 705,000 thousand ounces. Lower gold production was reported at Mupane and Sadiola due to lower gold grades.
Regarding the Sadiola project, IAMGOLD also has the approval of the Societe D'Explotation Des Mines D'Or De Sadiola to proceed with a $9 million deep sulphide feasibility study of the project. If the results are positive, construction would begin in 2011. IAMGOLD has also reached a tentative agreement with the IFC to purchase its 6% interest in the project for $16 million. AngloGold Ashanti and the Republic of Mali may also elect to buy their proportionate share of the IRC interest. The IFC's 6% share represents 1,000 ounces of gold.
Meanwhile, niobium production declined 15% to 982,000 kilograms during the third quarter of this year as a result of mechanical problems in the converter at the Niobec Niobium Mine in Quebec this year to 982,000 kilograms as a result of mechanical problems in the converter leading to lower conversion of niobium oxide concentrate to ferroniobium at the Niobec Niobium Mine in Quebec. For the first nine months of this year production decline 14% to 2.87 million kilograms.
Niobium is used as an alloying agent, predominantly in the steel production industry.
FINANCIALS
IAMGOLD reported net earnings of $64.9 million or 18-cents per share during the third quarter, a 245% increase over the $18.8 million and 6-cents/sh reported during the same quarter a year ago.
For the first nine months of this year, IAMGOLD reported a net income of $170.8 million or 46-cents per share, an 87% increase over the $86.5 million or 29-cents/sh reported during the first nine months of 2008. Income during the third-quarter 2009 included higher forex gains primarily from Canadian dollars, higher derivative gain and other items.

http://www.mineweb.co.za/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page34?oid=91934&sn=Detail

Canada's B2Gold gives 2010 gold production update
Wed Nov 4, 2009 10:56am EST

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* Sees 2010 production at 120,000-130,000 ounces
* Says construction of Orosi mine 95 pct complete
* To start production at Orosi mine in late Nov.
* Says 2 labor unions at Limon ready to restart work
Nov 4 (Reuters) - Canada's mid-tier gold explorer B2Gold Corp (BTO.TO) sees production of 120,000 ounces to 130,000 ounces in 2010, with both its mines in Nicaragua in operation.
Construction at B2Gold's Orosi mine was 95 percent complete and it expects to start production later this month, the company said in a statement.
It said the construction cost at Orosi mine, expected to produce an average of 80,000 ounces to 90,000 ounces a year on its commercial start, has gone up by 13 percent to $62 million.
B2Gold said its Limon mine in Nicaragua, where work was halted due to a labor dispute, was currently producing about 1,000 ounces a day and it was hopeful to resolve the issue.
Two of the workers' unions, are ready to return to work, representing about 46 percent of mine's work force, the company said in a statement.
In October, Nicaragua's ministry of labor had declared the strike at Limon mine to be illegal.
Shares of the company were up 4 Canadian cents at 79 Canadian cents Wednesday morning on the Toronto Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Ashutosh Joshi in Bangalore; Editing by Unnikrishnan Nair)

http://www.reuters.com/article/basicMaterialsSector/idUSBNG4414120091104

New regs create need for additional mine inspectors
by JULIA ROBERTS GOAD Staff Writer
18 hrs ago | 239 views | 0 | 3 | |

(Staff photo/JULIA R GOAD) Tim Bradley and Tim Prichard, both employees of Cheyenne Resources # 9 mine were on hand for Gov. Beshear’s visit to Pike County. “I think he’s smart, he will be good for coal,” Bradley said. Although the coal industry is experiencing tough economic times, Cheyenne has not had to cut hours or lay off employees. “We have smart management to thank for that,” Bradley said.
PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear was at the Big Sandy Regional Airport Tuesday to announce the addition of 34 state employees to make coal mining safer and to help the mining industry expand during tough economic times.

Beshear explained the Office of Mine Safety and Licensing (OMSL) will hire 15 mine inspectors, while the Division of Mine permits (DMP) will add 19 employees to its office.

“The coal mining industry is vital to Kentucky and to the country,” Beshear said. “During this, the worst recession we have ever seen, Kentuckians know that we must come together and work together.”

The governor was in Pike County as one of three stops he made in Eastern Kentucky to announce the additional personnel.

Recent increases in mining regulations has put a heavy workload on the OMSL, which made the additional inspectors crucial to the department.

“With these additional regulations, we need more help right away or we can’t meet our objectives,” Beshear said. “Mining is one of the most perilous jobs in the country, and Kentucky’s 17,000 miners need to be kept safe.”

He went on to explain the OMSL keeps miners safe not only by inspecting mines for safety, but also organizing mine rescue teams that are ready in the event of a mine disaster.

“These additional employees will not only help with our efforts to complete the number of required inspections, but will also enhance our nationally recognized mine rescue team capabilities and response,” the governor said.

Resolutions passed by the Floyd and Martin counties’ fiscal courts enable the 15 safety inspectors, who perform both safety inspections and mine rescue, to be funded through the Multi-County Local Government Economic Development Fund through Memoranda of Agreement among the Department for Local Government, Energy and Environment Cabinet and Floyd County.

Gov. Beshear has also signed an emergency regulation that allows for assessments on new mine permit applications. The additional funding is expected to raise an estimated $800,000 with an equal federal match that will be used to pay for 19 additional employees in the Division of Mine Permits.

The employees at the DMP will help expedite the permitting process so companies can obtain the necessary permits faster, Beshear said.

“Because of budgetary restraints and retirements with the DMP, permits were not being issued quickly,” he said. “This legislation will get these permits out the door faster, and get our miners to work.”

Beshear said Kentucky is looking forward in its approach to coal and to energy.

“We must be smart about how we operate,” he said. “A year ago, I implemented a seven point energy strategy that included coal-to-liquid, coal-to-gas and carbon capture and sequestration. My goal for 2025 is to have four billion gallons of liquid fuel made from 50 million tons of coal, to have coal-to-gas meet 100 percent of the state’s gas needs.”

Gov. Beshear said the time has come to use research into new technologies to move coal forward.

“The world is changing,” he said. “Coal is and will always be a critical part of every strategy. He have the opportunity to create 10,000 new jobs if we apply what we have learned to a framework of 21st century technologies. Kentuckians always rise to the occasion, and now there is too much at stake not to do that.”


http://www.williamsondailynews.com/pages/full_story/push?article-New+regs+create+need+for+additional+mine+inspectors%20&id=4308299-New+regs+create+need+for+additional+mine+inspectors&instance=home_news_lead


Major joint mining project testifies to milestone in China, Papua New Guinea cooperation



www.chinaview.cn 2009-11-05 00:40:46
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by Ming Jinwei, Cao Yang
MORESBY, Papua New Guinea, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday attended a ceremony to celebrate crucial progress made on a major joint mining project between China and Papua New Guinea.


Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L) shakes hands with a Papua New Guinean worker during a celebration ceremony of the Ramu nickel project by China Metallurgical Group Corp., in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Nov. 4, 2009. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang and Papua New Guinean Deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu attended the celebration ceremony here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)
Photo Gallery>>>

Leaders from both countries hailed the ceremony, held at the Chinese Embassy to Papua New Guinea, as a milestone in bilateral cooperation.
The Ramu Nico project, located in the province of Madang, is one of the biggest nickel and cobalt mines operated by Chinese companies. It also is China's biggest investment project in the South Pacific island nations.


Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang delivers a speech during a celebration ceremony of the Ramu nickel project by China Metallurgical Group Corp., in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Nov. 4, 2009. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang and Papua New Guinean Deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu attended the celebration ceremony here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)
Photo Gallery>>>

The project is mainly owned by China's MCC-JJJ Mining development company, while Australian investors, the Papua New Guinea government and local landowners also have a stake in the joint venture. It was expected to be in operation earlier next year.
Li said at the ceremony that Ramu Nico was a landmark project between China and Papua New Guinea. He said that the fact that the project has been successfully implemented and has made crucial progress was proof that there is much potential for bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Li praised the Chinese operating company, MCC Ramu Nico Limited, for carrying out a sustainable development concept and for emphasizing corporate social responsibility, which he believes has created a good environment for the project and signified the friendship between the two countries.
Nickel is a strategically scarce resource in China. After the Ramu Nico project comes into operation, it will help balance the supply-demand relationship of nickel, both in China and on world markets.
For Papua New Guinea, the project was expected to contribute to a more than 10 percent growth in its gross domestic product (GDP).Local residents will also benefit substantially from the project because of the much-need investment and jobs it will bring.
Li said the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries will bear meaningful fruit.
The vice premier also thanked the Chinese workers involved in the project for their work with their Papua New Guinean colleagues to turn the Ramu Nico project into a model of bilateral cooperation.
Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu also attended the ceremony and expressed thanks to the Chinese government and companies for meeting a tight construction schedule despite the adverse impact of the global financial crisis.
Temu also hailed the project as a milestone in bilateral cooperation. He said it has contributed to the development of the national economy and brought tangible benefits to local people.
Arnold Amet, the governor of Madang province, told Xinhua that the project provided necessary jobs for the local people. He also praised the project for improving public services and infrastructure in the region around the mine.
Luo Shu, chairperson of MCC Ramu Nico, said her company would continue to implement the principles of professionalism, internationalization and localization.
She also said her company would continue to act as a responsible Chinese resources developer and help local communities achieve sustainable development.
Li arrived in Port Moresby on Tuesday on the last leg of a three-nation tour in the South Pacific. The trip has also taken him to Australia and New Zealand.


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/05/content_12387761.htm

Zim mines minister says they have met Kimberley Process requirements
Nov 4, 2009 10:43 PM | By Sapa-AP

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Zimbabwe has made progress in complying with the requirements of a diamond watchdog body, Zimbabwe Mines Minister Obert Mpofu said as the Kimberley Process discusses Zimbabwe's possible suspension from the body.
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"We strongly believe that, as a country, we have done all in complying with the requirements of the process," Mpofu was quoted as saying in Namibia.
Yet civil society groups are demanding the country's suspension from the diamond trade, after investigations showed "horrific" abuses by the army against civilians.
The investigators visited Zimbabwe in June and July, gathering accounts of soldiers raping women and killing illegal miners in an eastern diamond field. They say it's "credible" that security forces are smuggling diamonds.
http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/article180260.ece
Other News

Where have all the CMs gone?
CITHARA PAUL
New Delhi, Nov. 4:

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee?
Silence
Nitish Kumar?
Silence
Raman Singh?
Silence
K. Rosaiah?
Silence
Shivraj Singh Chauhan?
Silence
Naveen Patnaik?
Present, Sir.
Phew!
If Manmohan Singh heaved a sigh of relief this morning, professors whose frontbenchers bunk class would have sympathised with him.
Barring Patnaik, no chief minister from the states expected to counter Maoists through tribal welfare turned up for a New Delhi meeting partly named after them. The two-day event is titled “Conference of chief ministers and state ministers (forests/tribal development) to review the implementation of forest rights and tribal development programmes”.
A tribal welfare ministry official said the department had specifically requested chief ministers of Bihar, Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, all states with Naxalite presence of varying intensity, to attend the conference the Prime Minister kicked off.
“We had specifically asked chief ministers of Naxalite-affected states to attend the meeting. We hoped it would send out positive signals to the tribals and to the rest of the world. But apart from the Orissa chief minister, nobody cared to attend,” the official said.
“Even states like Bengal and Tripura which write to us every other week seeking amendments to the forest rights act did not care to send their chief ministers to the meeting which discussed all issues related to the act,” he added.
The Bengal chief minister was busy today reviewing plans for weekend meetings in West Midnapore, the Maoist-affected tribal belt, where Bhattacharjee will review welfare efforts and law and order.
“This needs extensive homework. Also, the chief minister wanted to be in Calcutta to keep track of the situation in Arambagh where Mamata Banerjee held a meeting today after clashes in nearby Khanakul,” an official said in Calcutta.
Bengal did send forest minister Ananta Roy, backward classes welfare minister Jogesh Burman and his department secretary Nurul Haque to the Delhi meeting.
“The chief minister could not come as he had other preoccupations,” Roy said.
A senior Bengal official said: “Two ministers went and that was enough to accord importance to the programme. Delhi has this habit of inviting the chief minister or the chief secretary to every event but it’s not always possible for them to accede to such requests.”
Earlier, too, Bhattacharjee had skipped a meeting convened by Manmohan Singh in Delhi on the Maoist problem. His secretariat had then said Bhattacharjee wasn’t well.
The tribal welfare conference has assumed significance against the backdrop of the growing Maoist threat and a perception that the government was keen on a security solution before focusing on development initiatives.
Inaugurating the conference, the Prime Minister said there had been “a systemic failure” in giving tribals a stake in the modern economic process.
He said the alienation that had grown over decades was taking a dangerous turn in some parts of the country but “no sustained activity” was possible under the “shadow of the gun”.

WITH INPUTS FROM CALCUTTA BUREAU



http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091105/jsp/frontpage/story_11702167.jsp

Act to protect rights of forest dwellers

TNN 5 November 2009, 07:16am IST
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LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh is working towards implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest


Rights) Act, 2006, for empowering the tribals and other traditional forest dwellers for their occupation and habitation rights on forests. This Act empowers and encourages forest dwellers to protect, conserve and manage forest bio-diversity. The state has begun its efforts to put the Act in place for the benefit of forest dwellers here.

The state has identified 21 critical districts for the implementation of the Act and has constituted 707 forest rights committees, 25 sub-divisional committees and 21 district level committees. There have been total 54,708 claims submitted before forest rights committees at gram sabha level. Out of this, 13,146 claims have been submitted to sub-divisional level committees. Forest department, however, has also rejected 26 claims till date.

A state level committee under the chairmanship of chief secretary has also been set up. In order to sensitise inhabitants and departments involved in implementation, copies of the Act, pamphlets and posters have been distributed. Interactive meetings have been organised at various levels viz gram sabha, sub-division and district. Besides, the state has also set up an expert committee in order to identify critical wildlife habitat areas of national park and sanctuaries on the basis of scientific objectives and criteria.

The facts on the Act and its implementation were shared by forest minister Fateh Bahadur Singh at the ongoing two-day conference of state ministers of forest department and chief ministers. Uttar Pradesh has 14,127 sq km forest cover which is 5.86% of its geographical area and 8,203 sq km tree cover which is 3.4% of its geographical area. Natural forests in UP are confined to Bundelkhand, Vindhya and Terai region.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Act-to-protect-rights-of-forest-dwellers/articleshow/5198017.cms
Govt ‘unaware’ on NREGA blunder
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Al Ngullie

Dimapur | November 4 : The state’s Rural Development has finally surfaced, to maintain that mismanagement – especially of funds – in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in Nagaland was “due to unawareness” about ‘procedures.’ Initially, the RD department and the implementing functionaries were “a bit puzzled” on how to implement the rural scheme sanctioned under the Act, according to Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development Pangnyu Phom.
Long months of silence from the government have followed the recent slew of charges of financial mismanagement, corruption and operational violations and discrepancies in its implementation. The Opposition Congress in Nagaland has been crying foul over the NREGA gaffe too.
APPROX RS. 4 CRORE FOR RURAL HOUSING OUT
On Monday, Phom interacted with this daily stoutly defending the state’s NREGA implementation as “quite satisfactory.” Initially when the NREGS was put to action, departmental functionaries and village implementing authorities were “a bit puzzled” regarding ‘procedures’ to be followed. On being queried over the widespread allegations of corruption and operational fallings, he said the department and agencies were wholly “unaware” of the ‘guidelines.’ There was “misunderstanding” at the village level as well, the parliamentary secretary explained. Still, he said, it has been “rectified” and implementation according to guidelines has been “streamlined,” he said.
However, the “unawareness” and “misunderstanding” about ‘procedures’ or guidelines not being a plausible pretext for fund mismanagement or corruption was not explained.
Pressed with the question of corruption reported especially at the village-level, Phom replied that “no one has been officially found.” Nonetheless, he assured of action “if anyone is found” as “no one is above the guidelines.” To the Congress, Phom remarked ‘it is the duty of opposition to oppose.’ Otherwise, he added, he is “quite satisfied” with the implementation of the scheme by the Rural Development department.
In a related matter, the Ministry of Rural Development this year has granted what was called a “stimulate package” of more than Rs. One crore to Nagaland under the central rural housing project Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY). Records show that the Centre allocated Rs.1,69,46,000 (Rupees one crore sixty nine lakh forty six thousand) to nine District Rural Development Agencies of Nagaland as “Stimulate Package (Out of Saving)” for the implementation of the project for the year 2008-2009.
A letter of the director of the ministry’s Rural Housing Sunita H. Khurana to the accounts officer, conveyed that a sanction of payment of grants-in-aid amounting to Rs.1, 69, 46,000 for nine districts in Nagaland has been made. The letter said the grant is under the plan-expenditure for construction of new houses or upgrading “kutcha houses into pucca houses.”
The details show that during 2008-2009 Dimapur received a total (first and second installment) of Rs. 248.336 lakhs, Kiphire Rs. 116.29 lakhs, Longleng Rs. 91.514 lakhs, Mon Rs. 201.809 lakhs, Peren Rs. 126.102 lakhs, Phek Rs. 152.341 lakhs, Tuensang Rs. 229.67 lakhs, Wokha Rs. 100.556 lakhs and Zunheboto Rs. 122.834 lakhs. The total package for all the districts was shown at Rs. 169.46 lakhs.
For Kohima and Mokokchung DRDAs, another letter in July 2008 said sanction has been made for payment of grants-in-aid amounting to Rs.1,38, 82,600.00 (one crore thirty eight lakh eighty two thousand and six hundred) as balance of 1st installment of Central Assistance for the implementation of IAY for the year 2008-2009.


http://www.morungexpress.com/frontpage/36916.html

Land rights to tribals not enough’


Express News Service
First Published : 05 Nov 2009 03:36:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 05 Nov 2009 09:02:43 AM IST

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said it was not enough to confer legal rights on the tribals over land, steps should be initiated to provide irrigation facilities.
Measures should be taken to improve productivity of the land by dovetailing various programmes including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), said Naveen while addressing a meeting convened by the Centre on implementation status of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, in Delhi. The meeting was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Stating that the State Government had constituted a Watershed Mission to improve the productivity of rainfed lands, Naveen observed that the Centre should support this programme so that it can be extended to development of the land settled with the tribals.
The Chief Minister claimed that substantial progress has been made on implementation of the Act and 2.64 lakh cases have already been verified out of more than three lakh cases filed by the tribals with the forest rights committees (FRCs).
The gram sabhas have approved about two lakh cases, out of which the sub-divisional level committees had already cleared 72,000 cases. Out of the 68,000 cases approved by the district level committees, certificates of title have been distributed to more than 55,000 cases. About 4,000 certificates of titles have been distributed among the primitive tribal groups (PTGs) out of 16,000 families in the State, he said.
Scheduled Tribes (STs) constitute almost a quarter of the total population of the State, which has the unique distinction of having 62 types of ST communities and 13 vulnerable PTGs.
Naveen claimed that the State Government had undertaken several steps to ensure all round development of STs including the PTGs. The initiatives include setting up 1,004 girls’ hostels, enhancement of scholarship for ST boys and girls, establishment of 19 educational complexes in micro project areas for promotion of girls education among the PTGs, opening of B.Ed training college in Kandhamal and 11 Eklavya model schools.
The State Government is also committed to establishing another 5,000 ST girls’ hostels over five years to provide residential facilities for five lakh ST girls, he said.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=‘Land+rights+to+tribals+not+enough’&artid=dH3OpSRIUI8=&SectionID=mvKkT3vj5ZA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=nUFeEOBkuKw=&SEO=


Engineers booked for committing fraud

TNN 4 November 2009, 09:15pm IST
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HAZARIBAG: The district administration on Tuesday lodged an FIR against five engineers of the special division of the rural engineering


organisation (REO) in connection with the alleged irregularities committed in the execution of about 400 NREGA schemes in the Barkagaon and Keredari blocks of the district.

The FIR includes the names of assistant executive engineer Ghurani Ravidas, assistant engineers Sunil Kumar and Pappu Kumar and junior engineers Harihar Singh and Sanjay Singh.

At various monitoring committee meetings held under the presidentship of deputy commissioner (DC) Vinay Kumar Choubey, several former MPs and MLAs and workers of different political parties had complained about irregularities committed by the REO's special division headed by executive engineer Ghurani Ravidas. They said that Ravidas used to collect cheques amounting to crores of rupees even when schemes were not complete. In several cases, the beneficiaries did not receive payments, they pointed out and demanded an inquiry against them.

On the basis of the complaints, the DC instructed the assistant project officer (APO) of the District Rural Development Agency, Anil Kumar, to inquire into the irregularities committed by the engineers. After scrutinizing documents and meeting beneficiaries, the APO detected grave irregularities in several NREGA schemes. Later, he submitted an inquiry report to the DC who recommended the state government to initiate action against the guilty engineers.

Following this, the state government suspended the five engineers and referred the file to the governor who directed the DC to lodge an FIR against the engineers.

Rajya Sabha MP Mebel Rebello, who is a member of the NREGA central monitoring committee, had also received complaints against the special division engineers.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Engineers-booked-for-committing-fraud/articleshow/5197163.cms