Mining giant Vedanta is all set to diversify into steel business. Sesa Goa Ltd in which Vedanta has the controlling share, has begun negotiations with Japanese and European companies to set up a steel plant in India.
At its summit, the northeastern ridge of the Niyamgiri hill range has a bald patch, typical of hilltops with bauxite deposits. A dense tree cover that provides a welcome shade to climbers struggling some 8 km up the steep forest path gives way to a vast stretch of open grassland. A full-grown leopard silently pads across the open expanse. Up here, all is at peace. For now.
Arunachal Pradesh is awarding hydroelectric projects to private companies at the breakneck speed of one every nine days without proper scrutiny. The government says hydroelectricity is the key to the state’s development. But ARNAB PRATIM DUTTA finds out that the people exposed to risks will not gain much from the projects. Read full story...
As far as public protests go, Puducherry, formerly Pondicherry, has generally been a backwater. But the government’s resolve to fast-track a deep-water port, upgrading the existing fair-weather port, has provoked a chorus of protests from citizens across the board—NGO members, fisherfolk, lawyers, politicians and farmers.
This is a story about the environmental clearance mechanism in India. Arguably legally strong, it fails in implementation. The project proponent looks upon the mechanism as a hurdle; for the administrator, it is mere routine. For affected communities, there is only one hope: the public hearing process. But it always fails them, in the end. So where does this mechanism go wrong? What changes are needed? KUSHAL PAL SINGH YADAV looks for answers.
On the face of it, the ambitious Sethusamudram project to bridge the east coast with the west coast of the country seems a great idea. The prospect of not having to circumnavigate Sri Lanka and cutting short travel periods by 30 hours sounds as interesting as it did 150 years ago when a draft plan for the canal was first mooted (see box: Taking shape). A Tamilian dream is now beginning to take shape.
While going up the meandering road from Tehri to the holy town Gangotri during the thick of monsoon, the Bhagirathi appeared to get uneasily quieter with each hairpin bend; until Chinyali Sor village near Dharasu, 45 km from new Tehri town.
For a growing section of riders, e-bikes are a cool way out of increasing fuel costs.
Easing traffic the Beijing way impractical for Mumbai says government
Will people risk giving ride to strangers? Car owners in Delhi may be able to save up to 50 per cent travel cost by sharing rides under a citywide carpool scheme proposed by the Delhi transport department aimed at decongesting the city.
THE Union ministry of urban development has evolved a system for evaluating urban transportation services in cities across India.
Will Kolkata succeed in phasing out two-stroke autos by July end?