Delhi High Court cancels clearance to mining project in Goa

Ramesh Gauns, an environmental activist and a primary school teacher from Sarvona village in Goa has been battling the government, which cleared a mining project in his village, for almost five years.

Bilaspur coal washery expansion opposed

The go-ahead granted to the expansion of a coal washery in Bilaspur by a public hearing on February 28 has initiated a controversy in Chhattisgarh. The public hearing has given its consent to the expansion plan in Hingadih village, owned by Hind Energy & Coal Beneficiation (India) Pvt Ltd, to increase its capacity by 1.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). Its existing production capacity is 2.4 MTPA.

MoEF expert panel recommends moratorium on mining, power projects in Konkan

Power and mining projects planned in the Konkan region of Maharashtra may hit a road block if the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) decides to heed the report of an expert panel it appointed. The panel has recommended an indefinite moratorium on new environmental clearances for mining in ecologically sensitive zones (ESZ I & II) of the region.

Shift Mumbai trans-harbour link alignment, demand environmentalists

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has locked horns with environmentalists as it prepares to execute its ambitious bridge project—the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL). The 22km road corridor, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 8,800 crore, will connect Mumbai and Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai. Environmentalists are demanding a change in the route alignment, saying it will destroy an important flamingo habitat, mudflats and mangroves. 

Green tribunal begins hearing appeal against POSCO steel plant

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has started hearing the appeal challenging environmental clearance granted to the controversial POSCO steel project in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district. The hearing began on Tuesday despite the claim of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) that the clearance to the project cannot be challenged as it was granted four years ago after following due process of law.

Andhra Pradesh speeds up Kovvada nuclear power project

Even as people’s resistance against the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu continues to make news, the government of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has decided to speed up the 9,564 MW Kovvada Nuclear Power Park (KNP) project in Ranasthalam block of the north coastal district of Srikakulam. The state issued an order on 27 December to acquire 1,000 hectares (ha) of land from farmers and fishers of the region, ignoring widespread public protests.

Centre's public relations exercise to clear way for Kudankulam nuclear plant

In a delayed bid to dispel fears regarding the Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu’s coastal district of Tirunelveli, the government of India has constituted an expert group of 15 specialists. The objective of the group, constituted on October 20, is to interact with all the stakeholders, even as the protest against the plant nearing completion intensifies in the state.

Supreme Court questions viability of river linking project

The ambitious river linking project, connecting rivers of peninsular India with  Himalayan rivers through canals, has hit a roadblock after the Supreme Court's observation that the project would burden the Union government because of escalating costs. While environmentalists and activists have welcomed the order seeking detailed report on the project's cost, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has commenced work on two of 30 project components, which propose linking two or three rivers each. [Highlights] On October 17, a bench comprising chief justice of India, S H Kapadia, K S Radhakrishnan and Swatantra Kumar reportedly said the project cost, initially estimated at Rs 500,000 crore, must have increased since land acquisition expenses had increased considerably. “My concern is what will be the financial burden. It is a huge project and land acquisition has acquired a different connotation now. So, we want to know the financial viability of the project on both counts—cost and land acquisition,” said Kapadia, while directing amicus curiae Ranjit Kumar to submit a detailed report on the project cost by January. The bench further stated that “inflation is very high and economic growth is slow. We will not force any additional financial burden on the government.”

Supreme Court petitioned to stall proposed nuclear plants

As protests against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant under construction in Tamil Nadu grows louder, several former bureaucrats and scientists have petitioned the Supreme Court to stay all the proposed nuclear power plants till a safety reassessment is done. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), however,  maintains that Indian nuclear power plants are safe and capable of enduring natural disasters.  

Public hearing for thermal power plant in Andhra Pradesh turns violent

The public hearing for the proposed thermal power plant at Ankulapaturu village of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh, held on October 3, turned violent.  In the melee, Vijayakumar, a practicing doctor and activist of Jana Vigyana Vedika, a people’s science organisation, was brutally beaten up by the police. An attempt to murder case has been registered against the circle inspector Ram Babu under section 307 of IPC.