Congress terms new bill as anti-farmer, plans statewide agitation

The Gujarat Irrigation and Drainage Bill, 2013, which was passed in the state assembly on February 27, amidst opposition from the Congress, has got the assent from Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal, water resources minister Babu Bokhiria said on Thursday."I got the message yesterday that the Governor has approved the Gujarat Irrigation and Drainage Bill, 2013," Bokhiria told Business Standard. Now, the bill would become an Act and will be notified in the state gazette.

In his first meeting with new Chinese President Xi Jinpeng, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought a joint mechanism to enable India assess the type of construction activity being carried out in Tibe

BHOPAL: The acquisition of houses belonging to 6,500 families affected by the Maheshwar dam project lapsed on March 11, 2013 owing to failure of MaheshwarHydel Power Corporation Limited in depositi

Abandon plans to build a new dam, says activist

C.P. Roy, former chairman of Mullaperiyar Samara Samithi, has reiterated his demand for the construction of a tunnel from the Mullaperiyar dam.
He also has sought the abandonment of the plan to build a new dam. Mr. Roy’s demands come close on the heels of the State Budget allocating Rs.50 crore for the construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar.

Observing that Shree Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation Ltd. (SMHPCL), the private promoters of the Maheshwar dam project, had failed to begin commercial operation and had no funds to complete the project and rehabilitate the displaced, the Madhya Pradesh Government has threatened to terminate the project’s power purchase agreement.

A notice of default, a copy of which is with The Hindu , was issued by the MP Power Management Company Ltd (MPPMCL) in November last year but came to light only last week.

Mumbai: Forget skeletons, a criminal probe into the functioning of the Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation (KIDC) may reveal an entire graveyard.

The Chenara minor dam project in state water resources minister Sunil Tatkare’s bastion, Roha in Raigad district, reveals shocking instances of how officials shifted the goal post several times to push it through. The project was inaugurated by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in October, 2011. Documents accessed by TOI show the project was initially planned to irrigate 1,440 hectares, but subsequently reduced to 250 hectares when officials realized that permissions would be difficult to get. The dam’s height, which was fixed at 44.20m, was shortened to 28.95m.

BHOPAL: The state government has initiated legal proceedings to terminate power purchase agreement with Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation Limited, starting with serving a legal notice of default to the promoters of the company. Delay in execution of the project is said to be the major reason for this action.

Notice has been served as project activities of the Maheswhar project are at a standstill and no funds are available for the completion of the project and rehabilitation and resettlement of the oustees. As no payments have been made, M/s BHEL and other contractors have withdrawn their personnel from the dam site.

Mumbai: The state water resources department is ready to release Rs 114 crore to the contractor of the Kondhane dam project in Karjat.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra water resources department has willingly agreed to release Rs 114 crore to FA Enterprises, contractor of the controversial Kondhane dam project in Karjat taluka, barely mont