NGOs back Left in fight against SEZs
Left and civil society activists have come together to dub the creation of Special Economic Zones as a policy of favouring corporate houses over farmers. Alleging that the government was creating a "new breed of mansabdars and zamindars' under the framework of the SEZ Act, the CPI demanded the setting …
Urban India still frugal in spends
Here's a reality check for those who thought a decade of rising incomes and brand choices have turned urban Indians into impulsive, reckless and debt-loving consumers. The average, socio-economic class (SEC) households A, B & C, in urban India spend Rs 1,22,446 per annum, or Rs 10,204 per month. A …
Lefts own country Kerala scrapes bottom in job guarantee law
THE Left parties claimed the enactment of National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) Act as a "great achievement' of their struggle for the poor but the Left-ruled Kerala is among the worstperforming states as far as the Act's implementation goes. This, ironically, when it has only two districts to implement it …
Increased supply will lead to more waste water: Experts
In the wake of the inauguration of the Sonia Vihar Water Treatment Plant, environment experts warn that an increase in water supply could increase the amount of untreated water going into the Yamuna, leading to further pollution of the river. An analysis conducted by the Centre For Science and Environment …
Govt to lay down norms for acquiring land for SEZs
The Board of Approvals for special economic zones (SEZs) will shortly lay down new guidelines governing the development of such zones, said Special Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Gopal K Pillai, at the India SEZ Summit 2006, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Wednesday.
Nagaland plan finalized
The annual plan outlay for Nagaland for the year 2006-2007 was approved today at a meeting between the deputy chairman, planning commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia and the chief minister of Nagaland, Mr Neiphi U Rio . The annual plan size was fixed at Rs 760 crore which includes one …
BPL data made accessible to all
The Uttar Pradesh rural development department has launched a web-based database for the new Below Poverty Line (BPL) list to make the data accessible to all government departments and the common man. The new BPL list uses 13 score-based socioeconomic indicators for assessing the poverty-level of each household. These have …
N-E urged to prepare urban renewal report
The Union Minister of State incharge of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ms Selja has asked the government of North-Eastern states to prepare a detailed project report to avail themselves of funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission. The mission aims at planned development of the cities in urban …
CNG vehicles in Agartala by October
Commuters in Tripura will experience pollution free travel as the transport department has decided to introduce compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles next month.
'NE doing little in Central schemes'
None of the seven sisters including Sikkim, has approached the Centre for the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja said in Shillong.
13 states lag in NREGA execution
Thirteen states have been found wanting in utilisation of funds released under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). The states are Assam (18%), Bihar (12.79%), Gujarat (26%), Haryana (26%), Himachal Pradesh (12%), Jharkhand (22%), Karnataka (23%), Mizoram (7%), Nagaland (21%), Tamil Nadu (5%), Uttaranchal (13%), Uttar Pradesh (18%) and …
Govt submits Rs 13-cr water project to NABARD
Jammu and Kashmir government has submitted a Rs 13 crore plan to NABARD for three water supply schemes in north Kashmir, an official spokesman said. He said Rs 2.96 crore road project has been formulated for Rampore-Rajpore in Sopore tehsil while Rs 13 crore plan has been submitted to NABARD …
In Bengal, Left gives clean chit to Pepsi, Coke
As the rest of the country debates the report about pesticide content in Coke and Pepsi, the Left Front in West Bengal today cleared both the cola majors. It claimed that tests by a government laboratory here had not found the aerated drinks to be detrimental to health. Announcing this, …
WB slams India on governance
India may score high with the World Bank on growth, but the story on governance is very different - the country is ranked at the halfway mark or below on most indicators. This is according to a report released at the annual IMF-World Bank meeting in Singapore, comparing 213 countries …
Despite Buddha, WB to cap SEZs
A heated discussion on special economic zones (SEZs) at the politburo meeting of the CPI(M) earlier this week in Kolkata has resulted in a policy directive for the Buddhadeb government in West Bengal, which will now have to put a cap on the number of SEZs in the state.
Bongal Pukhuri water supply scheme completes 25 years
The silver jubilee celebration of the Bongal Pukhuri Rural Water Supply Scheme (Assam) which completed 25 years of regular water supply to the people of the area since its inception in 1981-82, was observed by the people of this vast area under the sponsorship of its Parichalana Samittee in cooperation …
Order on bottled water: Stay extended
The Delhi High Court has extended till August 25 its stay on an earlier Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Commission order restricting premium pricing of bottled water sold in multiplexes. On August 25, the Commission will have its final say on the matter. A bench comprising Justices Mukul Mudgal …
