Illegal GM cotton spreads across India

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Drought of equity

Vidarbha gets its first generic medicines shop

Vidarbha region got its first generic medicine shop this month thanks to the efforts of the Nagpur-based consumer forum, Janmanch. The shop, inaugurated in Yadav Nagar area in eastern Nagpur on November 11, is receiving a large number of queries from patients from all over the city and outside, informs Janmanch secretary Rajeev Jagtap.

Reservoir of corruption

Maharashtra bans Bt cotton seeds of Mahyco Monsanto Biotech

After months of dithering, Maharashtra has finally banned Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMB) from carrying out any trade in cotton seed in the state. MMB is a joint venture of Mahyco (a Maharashtra-based hybrid seed company), the Maharashtra government and Monsanto Holdings Pvt Ltd, a US-based company. Mahyco is also a key distributor of Bt cotton seeds in the country.

Maharashtra diverting water from Vidarbha farmers to power plants: Greenpeace report

The Maharashtra government has been diverting water meant for irrigating farmlands in drought-prone Vidarbha region and supplying it to coal-based power plants set up by private companies, alleges a report by non-profit Greenpeace. It said at least 398.87 million cubic metre (mcm) water was diverted each year between 2003 and 2011. This water could have helped irrigate approximately 79,774 hectares (ha) of farmland.

‘Lanco public hearing rigged’

The fresh public hearing for Lanco Infratech Limited’s 1,320 MW coal-fired power plant in Mandwa village of Maharashtra’s Wardha district was marked by utter chaos.

In the name of the farmer

Small cultivators will gain little from the Rs 575,000-crore credit largesse; companies and big farmers benefit the most

Forest fires singe Maharashtra

Large swathes of forests in Maharashtra risk being destroyed by forest fires allegedly started by tendu contractors. Large forest areas have been gutted in fires at different places in Vidarbha over the past fortnight. Sources in the forest department say these are not natural forest fires, a frequent phenomenon during summer. The tussle between state forest department and tendu leaf contractors is said to be the root cause of the forest fires.

Maharashtra farmers demand better price. Chief minister offers aid package

Protests and agitation by Maharashtra farmers demanding better price for their farm produce seem to have gone in vain. Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan evaded the issue of raising minimum support price for cotton, soybean and paddy in the ongoing winter session of the the Legislative Assembly in Nagpur.