Cabinet approves setting up of National Investment Board

The Union Cabinet has cleared way for setting up of National Investment Board (NIB). It has been renamed as Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) and will be chaired by prime minister and comprise members from various ministries. “The Cabinet has given an in-principle approval to the committee on December 13. It will take a week’s time to decide on its members and function. We will put up the details on our website by next week,” says K L Sharma, joint secretary in the Cabinet secretariat.

Village at POSCO site seeks community forest rights

Mavallipura village resists attempts of Bengaluru municipal corporation to restart closed landfill

Residents of Mavallipura and 12 other villages north of Bengaluru are demanding a CBI inquiry into the city's garbage contracting system. This follows the decision of the city corporation, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike (BBMP), to restart dumping of waste in the lanfill at Mavallipura by overturning the decision of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

Karnataka pollution board halts dumping of Bengaluru's garbage at Ramky landfill

After almost a decade-long wait, the residents of 12 villages around the Mavallipura landfill site north of Bengaluru have finally got relief. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has ordered the city municipality, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and private operator of the landfill, Ramky Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, to immediately halt receiving waste at the facility.

POSCO project may kick off this year despite green tribunal order

The National Green Tribunal may have ordered a “fresh review” of the proposed POSCO steel plant in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha two months back, but the US $12 billion project might still be launched this year.  The project has been hanging in limbo for seven years amid environmental concerns and stiff protests by locals.

Karnataka Biodiversity Board washes hands of Bt brinjal biopiracy case

The Karnataka Biodiversity Board (KBB) has washed its hands of the Bt brinjal biopiracy controversy, saying the matter comes under the purview of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). Bt brinjal made headlines when it was found that Mahyco, partner of US biotech giant Monsanto,  had developed Bt brinjal using 12 indigenous varieties of the vegetable, accessed from various states, including Karnataka. These indigenous brinjal varieties were used without approval, which is a violation of the Biodiversity Act of 2002.

Karnataka High Court stalls link road through eco-sensitive zone

The Karnataka High Court has stalled the construction of a link road passing through the ecologically sensitive forest on the campus of the Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK) of the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bengaluru.

Environment minister cornered over bio-piracy of brinjal

      "National Biodiversity Authority has received a complaint from Environment Support Group on alleged violation by Monsanto and their collaborators for accessing and using the local brinjal varieties for development of Bt brinjal."       —— Jayanthi Natarajan Union Minister of Environment and Forests       Members of Parliament cornered Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan in the Rajya Sabha this week over bio-piracy issue of Bt brinjal asking her what action was being taken against the alleged violators.

Bt Brinjal: NBA may prosecute Mahyco, collaborators

The National Biodiversity Authority of India (NBA) says it may initiate legal action against Mahyco, a partner of biotech giant Monsanto, and their collaborators for accessing and using local brinjal (eggplant) varieties to develop the genetically modified (GM) or Bt Brinjal without the prior approval of the  authorities.

Public consultation on projects must: HC

The Karnataka High Court has ruled that all urban development projects must comply with the state's Town and Country Planning Act. The Act requires public consultations be carried before implementation of any project. The decision came while hearing a petition against transfer of land to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation.