UP police withdraws charges against social activist

in what is seen as a vindication of the struggle for land rights, and a political victory, the police in Uttar Pradesh's Sonebhadra district withdrew nsa (National Security Act, 1980) charges against a social activist following orders from chief minister Mayawati on August 17. The district court of Sonebhadra has granted Roma bail in one case. There are, however, several charges against her. She is still in police custody.

Kolam tribals in Maharashtra struggling to get their land back

Devrao Atram, a Kolam tribal from Maharashtra, got his land back two years ago. He had given 5 hectare (ha) on contract to a non-tribal banjara family 25 years ago. When he wanted to claim his land back five years from then, he was beaten up and driven out of the area. He sustained as a labourer till the Bombay High Court ruled that the land be returned to him.

Update

The Group of Ministers on the draft resettlement and rehabilitation policy had its third meeting on July 19, where it considered increasing the state governments' role in land acquisition for private businesses. It recommended that states can purchase up to 30 per cent of the land required, while industries can acquire 70 per cent. Earlier, the Union ministry of rural development (mord) had proposed a 10 per cent ceiling (see 'Dead end on how to rehabilitate', Down to Earth, July 15, 2007).

Ministers fail to reach consensus on R&R policy

the draft Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy has hit a roadblock for the second time. The group of ministers (gom) debated the draft policy brought out by the Union ministry of rural development (mord) on July 3, after failing to reach consensus the first time on June 20. The problem areas are compensation and land acquisition.

Orissa tribals struggle to regain cashew rights

"I have no choice but to leave my village in search of work. Otherwise, my family will starve," says Samra Malik of Malikput village in Orissa's Koraput district. He, and several others landless like him, go to work on railway construction sites in Andhra Pradesh and coastal Orissa. Malik alleges that a state body does not allow them to grow cashew leaving them with no other option.

Controversy over uranium mining project in Meghalaya

Reliance SEZ in Haryana sanctioned

it's official. The Reliance special economic zone (sez) project in Haryana is on. On June 5, the Board of Approval of sezs, a government body, gave its nod to the sez, which is to come up in 565 hectares (ha) in Gurgaon and Jhajjar districts of Haryana. Land was acquired by Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (hsiidc), a shareholder in the project, five years ago.

Efficiency versus democracy

Industrialist Ratan Tata has reportedly written to the prime minister cribbing about delays in implementing big buck projects. In his capacity as the chair of the government's investment commission he says over us $50 billion is tied up because of delays in allocating land and resources. His list includes major steel, thermal power, mining and aluminium projects of powerful houses--South Korean corporate Posco, uk's Lakshmi Mittal and India's Essar, Reliance, Jindal and, of course, Tata itself.

Gujarat faces forced land aquisition in name of industrialisation

Gujarat has received encomiums from many quarters for its rapid industrialisation. Industries have mushroomed all over the state, thanks to investment campaigns like 'Vibrant Gujarat'. Many areas have been set aside as special economic zones (sezs). But industrialisation has its flipside. It's rapid pace has increased pollution and intensified livelihood loss. And it is quite obvious that not everybody is happy with Gujarat's industrialisation.

POSCO officials in Orissa kidnapped

orissa's rich mineral resources have turned the state into a veritable battleground. On May 11, 2007, three Pohang Steel Company (posco) officials were kidnapped in Govindpur village in Jagatsighpur district. One of the officials was released immediately and two others were released after 10 hours of grilling and after giving an undertaking that they will not visit the area again.