The South Korean steel major Posco, facing stiff opposition from the local people for acquisition of land for its 12-million-tonne steel project in Orissa, may have to directly negotiate with the project affected villagers.
Unitech, a New Delhi-based real estate developer, has said various bills related to land and real estate sector may impact the sector's growth if various stakeholders' interests are not taken care of.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley explains the future of the Land Acquisition Law in India
Ratan Naval Tata, a prominent industrialist, philanthropist, and former Chairman of Tata Sons, has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, reports Mid-Day newspaper.
Various farmer organisations also submitted petitions to Jaitley.
The fact that everyone but Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh is speaking on the issue only gives credence to the specious fears of farmers that this government is out to get them. Aditi Phadnis reports
West Bengal, which has seen many violent protests against land acquisition in the country, is now set to get another exemplary rehabilitation package for land-losers. After the free shares by JSW Bengal Steel, now Bhushan Steel is going one step ahead to give free land to land-losers as a part of its rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) package. Sources said the R&R package has been submitted to the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC).
The amendment Act provides for the elimination of the exemption as it relates to compensation and resettlement and rehabilitation of families.
rediffGURU Vipul Bhavsar answers readers' personal income tax queries.
'Our armed forces are prepared for any eventuality, and God forbid if the balloon goes up, people will get a bloody nose from us'
The Land Acquisition Bill, which was being pushed by Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council, is set for further delay with the controversial matter being referred to a Group of Ministers because of the opposition by a number of Cabinet ministers.
'With technology advancing, we should go all out and put up solar, wind, pumped storage, and battery, and make India go green.'
In the past four years, there has been some progress in allocation of iron ore and coal mine--the two key raw materials for steelmaking. The memoranda of understanding for the mineral rich states of Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh started pouring in from 2005. Since then, many steel companies, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, Essar Steel, Tata Metaliks, and even ArcelorMittal have bagged either coal or prospecting licence for iron ore.
States' land acquisition policies need rethinking.
Faced by criticism on its special economic zone policy, the government is preparing guidelines for acquisition of land from farmers for setting up SEZs.
Lok Sabha is set to witness a confrontation over Land Acquisition Bill on Tuesday when it is taken up for voting with opposition bent on opposing it even as the government again offered to make changes in the legislation in the "larger interest" of the farming community.
The Opposition had promised to scrap the Dharavi redevelopment project if it came to power. With the Mahayuti's massive mandate in the Maharashtra assembly election, that prospect has been laid to rest.
Stated position of the West Bengal government is that no land should be acquired for private projects.
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Not making it 'prestige' issue: Govt on Land Ordinance.
Salboni, in West Medinipur district, is where JSW Steel in 2007 said it would be putting up a 10 million tonne a year steel factory, plus a big captive power plant.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's emphasis on a rigid land policy has pleased the farming community but not the industry.
A group of 101 farmers resumed their foot march to Delhi on Sunday to press the Centre for various demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP). However, they were stopped at the barricading by Haryana Police who cited a prohibitory order clamped by the Ambala administration. The farmers have been pressing for various demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP, a farm debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases (against farmers), and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.
Pakistan plans to procure 40 jets of advanced Chinese stealth fighter J-35, which, if materialised, will mark the first export of China's latest jet. The sale would mark Beijing's first export of fifth-generation jets to a foreign ally and is expected to recalibrate regional dynamics, particularly in relation to Pakistan's rival India. The acquisition of new aircraft was pursued despite the serious economic crisis faced by Pakistan. China has helped Pakistan to jointly develop and operate the J-17 Thunder fighter jet, the mainstay of the PAF. China has delivered four advanced naval frigates to the Pakistan Navy in the last few years to enable it to play a bigger role along with its navy in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.
Any such acquisition, if at all, should only be in exceptional cases
Industry says legislation will increase cost and timeframe for setting up new enterprises.
Local head of a farmers' group alleged that the police manhandled the protesters, including women and children, and in the process at least five people were injured.
Tata Indica, the Tata Group's big passenger car bet, was not delivering expected returns a year into its launch. Desperate, the Tata Motors brass, led by Ratan Tata, acceded to a meeting request from Ford Motors for a possible sale of the passenger vehicles division to the American auto major. Some people had advised Tata to sell the business, and the Ford officials came to Bombay House to hold talks.
If the Congress doesn't agree to these explicit riders, no support, says Trinamool.
The Land Acquisition Bill was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Thursday, making the consent of 80 per cent of owners mandatory for private projects.
Parliament's standing committee report on the government's land acquisition Bill has sought a thorough tightening of the provisions to ensure involvement of local institutions and an "informed and transparent process".
Speaking at a rally at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, Sonia Gandhi said her party was not against land acquisition for industry. "But farmers should be given adequate compensation. They should also be given stakes in the projects coming up on their land," she said.
Draft land reforms policy stops religious & educational bodies from using more than 15 acres.
But half the land lies unused due to legal hurdles, lack of investor interest.
"I came to meet you as your 'didi' not as the chief minister," she said.
The state now has a new policy, under a new government.
A bench of justices H L Dattu and C K Prasad, however, said that the Calcutta high court's interim order which had stated that the state need not part with the land for two months to allow it file its appeal, would continue.
Congress party will hold a protest rally called Zameen Wapsi Andolan in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The principle objective of the Bill is fair compensation, says Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh in an exclusive interview.
Among the major projects affected are the proposed steel plants of Videocon, Bhushan Steel and the Abhijit group. Neeraj Singhal, managging director of Bhushan Steel, said it would be difficult to acquire land wihtout government support. The decisin would also impact a host of projects lined up by New Kolkata International Development, a special purpose vehicle promoted by the Salim Group of Indonesia and the Universal Success group.
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