Indian laws adequate for ensuring biosafety, says MoEF special secretary

India is not considering formulating a new legislation for dealing with biosafety issues. This was stated by M F Farooqui, special secretary to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). He was talking to media persons at Hyderabad on the concluding day of the meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CoP-MoP 6). We feel the existing laws are adequate to deal with biosafety issues. We are not thinking of any new legislation," he said.

Biosafety conference urges for ratification of protocol on liability and redress for damage caused by GMOs

SC bans transportation of illegally mined ore from Goa

The Supreme Court of India banned transportation of illegally mined iron and manganese ore from Goa on Friday, and asked the state as well as the Central government to continue with the ban on mining in the state  till further notice.

Mahan coal block gets clearance

Odisha authorises second and subsequent renewal of mine leases

The Odisha government has passed a resolution authorising second and subsequent renewal of mining leases of private companies. Such renewals are generally not issued by state governments unless the projects are accepted as being in the interest of mineral development by the Indian Bureau of mines (IBM) at the Centre.

Union Cabinet approves amendments in Wildlife (Protection) Act

The Union Cabinet has approved the amendments in the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. Under the new guidelines, state governments will have to consult the village council (gram sabha) while notifying wildlife sanctuaries and national parks across the country.

Supreme Court may lift ban on 63 category B mines in Bellary

The Supreme Court has allowed operations in 63 out of 72 category B mines in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur in Karnataka, subject to conditions. Category B mines are those where companies are mining outside the lease area, encroaching up to 10 per cent more than lease area. Mines that dump waste outside the lease area, encroaching up to 15 per cent more than leased space also come under this category.

Granite mining scam: Tamil Nadu police raid Union fertiliser minister’s son’s company

Tamil Nadu police has raided the film production house belonging to the son of Union minister for chemicals and fertiliser, M K Alagiri in connection with the Rs 16,000 crore granite mining scam. According to a report filed by the collector of Madurai district, U Sagayam, Dayanidhi Durai’s firm along with 60 other persons owning various granite firms grabbed lands reserved for the backward Adi Dravida caste and filled up water bodies there to store illegally mined granite from the district.

Village at POSCO site seeks community forest rights

Decision on capacity building to handle GMOs tops biosafety meet agenda

One of the major decisions of the sixth meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CoP-MoP 6), on in Hyderabad since October 1, will be on capacity building, said Charles Gbedemah, head of biosafety, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). He was speaking at a press conference on the morning of October 5, the last day of CoP-MoP 6. About 1,500 delegates are reviewing implementation of the protocol and deliberating on further decisions to ensure the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs).