Vedanta’s red mud pond leaks into Vamsadhara river

A crack in the western part of the red mud pond of Vedanta Alumina refinery has leaked into nearby water bodies and hence into the Vamsadhara river.

थर्मल पावर प्लांट के खिलाफ प्रदर्शन

आंध्र प्रदेश के काकारपल्ली इलाके में बनने जा रहे थर्मल पावर प्लांट का यहां के लोग विरोध कर रहे हैं। 15 अगस्त 2010 से लोग यहां क्रमिक अनशन पर बैठे हैं।


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Question remains on CIL's expansion projects in Chhattisgarh

Coal India's expansion schemes are likely to take longer than expected in Chhattisgarh as the state has not submitted its plan as to how it will minimise environmental damage due to mining activities.

"...Korba will take longer because state has not submitted any remediation plan," according to a paper presented by the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoEF) before Group of Ministers (GoM) on Coal said.

SC to seek expert opinion on Polavaram dam

J. Venkatesan

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To ascertain whether it was being constructed in terms of the Godavari Tribunal Award

‘Orissa is agreeable for an independent expert being appointed to inspect the dam'

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday indicated that it would appoint an expert to inspect the Polavaram dam to ascertain whether it was being constructed in terms of the Godavari Tribunal Award.

A Bench of Justices Mukundakam Sharma and Anil R. Dave asked Additional Solicitor-General Harin P. Raval to take instructions on this proposal and inform the court on April 4.

The Bench was hearing an application filed by the Orissa Government in its suit seeking stay of operation of the approval granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to Polavaram project and for a direction to maintain status quo in its execution.

During the last hearing on March 3, the Bench had directed the parties to obtain instructions whether any expert or competent organisation could be associated with Central Water Commission to make an inspection of the dam in order to ascertain whether the construction of the dam is being carried out in terms of the award passed by the Godavari Tribunal.”

During the resumed hearing on Friday senior counsel for Orissa government, Raju Ramachandran submitted that Orissa was agreeable for an independent expert being appointed to inspect the dam. He gave three names—former Chairman of CWC, Anil D. Mohile; Prof. M. Perumal, IIT, Roorkee and Prof. A.K. Gosain, IIT, Delhi.

The ASG Mr. Raval opposed appointment of an expert stating that since CWC was a statutory body, there was no need for any outside expert as the question of institutional integrity was involved.

On behalf of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, senior counsel Rakesh Diwedi and Fali Nariman said the approved design for the dam should not be reopened in the name of inspection.

Senior counsel T.R. Andhyarujina for Maharashtra said the entire matter should be left to the CWC and there was no need for an outside expert to go into the issue.

Justice Sharma told Mr. Raval “it is only a question of ego. We are not de-meaning the CWC. We want another person to go and inspect the dam, what is wrong in it. Why should you object to it? Let the CWC submit its report and the expert submit his report, which may even fortify your opinion.”

When Mr. Raval sought time to take instructions, the Bench posted the matter for further hearing on April 4.

Jairam agrees to free more forest land for coal mining

Jairam agrees to free more forest land for coal mining

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh softened his stance at a meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today in an attempt to break the stalemate on the ‘go/no-go’ classification for coal mines in forest areas.