___________

Update: Livemint has a more succinct report.

The court suggested that VAL’s holding company, Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd, file an affidavit with three undertakings:

• commit to pay Rs50 crore as a security deposit to the court;
• agree to pay 5% of the net profit accruing from all its mining activities or Rs10 crore, whichever was greater, towards tribal development and environmental safeguards; and
• present a report on employment opportunities that the project would generate.

Following is an excerpt from a Reuter’s report on this.

The Supreme Court set new conditions on Britain’s Vedanta Resources Plc and its Indian unit on Friday before allowing it to mine bauxite in sacred, forested hills in the east of the country.

Vedanta wants to dig open-cast mines in the Niyamgiri hills in Orissa to feed an alumina refinery it has already built in the area, as part of an $800 million project expected initially to produce 1 million tonnes of alumina per year.

At an earlier hearing, Vedanta had promised to invest 1.12 billion rupees ($28.4 million) to develop the poor region, but a three-judge bench said it wanted this commitment to be made by the firm’s Indian unit, Sterlite Industries Ltd.

“What is Vedanta?,” the bench said. “Vedanta is not listed in India. So let Sterlite give an undertaking.”

Thousands of tribal people say the mine will destroy hills they consider sacred, force them from their homes and destroy their livelihoods, which are based on farming millet, hunting and collecting fruits and spices from the forests.

Environmentalists say the open-cast mine would also wreck the rich biodiversity of the remote hills and disrupt key water sources that supply springs and streams in the area and feed two rivers that irrigate large areas of farmland.

The court asked Sterlite to pay five percent of its annual profits from mining throughout India to the state government to be ploughed into developing the region.

It also asked the company to deposit 500 million rupees ($12.7 million) with the state government, and specify how many local people would be employed in the project.

When Sterlite objected to the conditions, the court adjourned the case until the company made a formal response.

The state and central government both back the plan, as part of efforts to industrialise and exploit the mineral resources of underdeveloped eastern India.

The Environment Ministry told the Supreme Court earlier this month that the mining would only affect a marginal amount of forest land.

It also promised “special efforts” would be made to manage and conserve wildlife in the area, which is part of an elephant corridor, shelters leopards and is the only known home in Orissa of the rare golden gecko.

If the state government and central government back this plan then they should require this from all mining companies in India not just Sterlite. It would be an excellent move.

Daily Pioneer reporter Kahnu Nanda reports that situation is turning in favour of POSCO in the Kujang Block. The Article is reproduced below:

“Days after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asserted that the mega greenfield steel plant by South Korean steel major Posco will be established at Kujang and that construction work would start from April 1, 2008, Posco has reiterated its commitment to the project.

An overwhelming section of people living in the proposed project site areas, including representatives of several political parties, social activists and local senior citizens, are moving fast to garner support for the project’s implementation.

Reports indicate that several meetings and campaigning has been held in project site at village level in the past week in a bid to woo the locals in the project’s favour.

Different project sympathisers have been organising these pro-Posco meetings and Ersama MLA and former Minister Damodar Rout has proposed to organise a mass public meeting in Balitutha Hat on October 27 just at a stone’s throw distance from the project opponents’ road block over Balitutha Bridge since September 24.

Sources said that a pro- Posco meeting was organised under the leadership of former PS member Jiban Lal Behera and the meeting was attended by most of habitants and discussed the Posco issues at length.

The senior villagers, attending the meeting too opined setting up of the project and unanimously resolve requesting the Posco authorities to reopen its closed Kujang office immediately.

Meanwhile, Ranjan Das a social activist and native of Polang, an affected village for the project, arranged a meeting in village on Tuesday in a move to garner support for Posco.

The Chief Minister’s endeavours to have a dialogue with project opposition groups had described a salutary effort while the villagers emphasised that the Posco authorities need to directly interact with the affected people for land acquisitions, Askhya Das, a villager revealed.

The political atmosphere in the project sites of Gadakujang, Dhinkia, Nuagaon, Chatua, Balitutha and Bamadeipur villages saw a startling incident on Tuesday when one Dhruba Charana Muduli, a social activist had called an all party meeting in Gadakujanga to discuss the Posco stalemate.

The meeting was attended by most of the members of different political parties of the locality excluding Leftists.

In the meeting a decision was taken to form an all party co ordination committee taking members from different political parties to hold dialogue with the State Government, the district administration and the Posco authorities to sort out the project obstacles, informed a member of a major political party.

Meanwhile, sources said that a similar type of meeting had been organised in Govindpur village under the leadership of Nirvay Samantray and project sympathiser Tamil Pradhan had conducted a meting in his Nuagaon village on Wednesday.

However, reports said that most of Posco supported leaders at the proposed project site villages have been organising meetings and campaigning to bring a pro attitude since the Chief Minister and Posco agreed for the project inception last week.

Ersama legislator Damodar Rout ,who was keeping distance from Posco related issues earlier has started organising mass contact campaigning with a message against anti -Posco sentiments in project site villages.

However, Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) who is spearheading the anti-Posco movement since one year vowed to oppose the project tooth to nail and refused to act on the Chief Minister’s desire of a dialogue.

According to them the project would wipe out 11 villages and affect around 20,000 habitants therefore no industry should not be set up at the cost of agricultural lands that threatens to take away the livelihood of people.

Abhaya Sahoo, PPSS chairman slammed the State Government for being insensible towards the affected locals, and also threatened of not giving one inch of land for the Posco project. He blamed the local leaders for organising pro Posco meetings in their areas under the influence and getting financial supports from Posco.”

If this is true then it is great news. Following is an excerpt on this from Pioneer.

Cuttack has been included in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, and a notification to this effect would be published soon by the Central Government, said Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, JB Patnaik on Thursday.

Initially, the scheme included Bhubaneswar and Puri among a total 63 cities across the country for their overall development, and the Prime Minister had been requested to include Cuttack in the list, which has been acceded to, said Patnaik.

Sources said that Cuttack would get Rs 2,000 crore for its development under the scheme out of which the Central Government would bear 80 per cent whereas the State Government and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation would meet the remaining 10 per cent each.

I don’t know starting from when. But just stumbled across the following. (For my Bangalore readers, I plan to be in Bangalore on Dec 31st and Jan 1 and would love to meet you guys.)

Following is an excerpt from a report in newkerala.com on this.

Indian Navy was planning to develop an air enclave at Bhubaneswar for its aircraft, Commodore MVS Kumar, Naval Officer in Charge of Orissa said here today.

The Commanding Officer of INS Chilika, while briefing the press on the Navy Week by INS Chilika, said the Navy had already approached the state government for five acre of land for the purpose and the Chief Minister had responded very positively.

In addition, a plan was also mooted to develop 20 acre of land lying at Paradeep to provide logistic support to naval ships, he said.

The Commanding Officer of INS Chilika said a week long sailing workshop-cum-Chilika Lake Mouth Sailing Expedition would be organised for youths from November 11 to 18 to promote adventure sports in the state.

The state department for Youth Affairs and Sports had selected 100 youths from all over the state to participate in the workshop.

Following are excerpts from a report in Business Standard.

Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd.’s textiles division plans to go for organic cotton contract farming in Gujarat, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh in a big way.

The company aims to cover 30,000 hectares in these states. For a start the company has finalised on 2,000 hectares of organic contract farming in Orissa.

The company’s organic home linen segment is witnessing a great demand in the European and the US markets. The company is planning to go in for a tie-up with the National Institute of Fashion Technology(NIFT) to allow the students to go in for internships at GHCL units and to tap talents for their facility.

Neeraj Jalan, General Manager, GHCL, told Business Standard: “We are aiming to cover around 30,000 hectares under contract farming for organic cotton. We have identified three states for this which included Gujarat, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. We have finalised around 2,000 hectares of land for contract farming in Orissa.

Following is an excerpt from a report in New Indian Express.

Adventure sports have hit the youths of Orissa big time. As many as 24 dare devils embarked on a week-long river rafting expedition to Paradip along the mighty Mahanadi from the picturesque Baliput (Satkosia) on Tuesday.

The expedition, the third in a series, was flagged off by Tourism Minister Debi Prasad Mishra.

The expedition would test the boys’ stamina and unflagging determination to sail down the river negotiating rough waters to the port town, covering about 270 km. All that they would have for company are the four rafts. Some of the towns they would pass through are Singhnath, Gopinathpur, Subarnapur, Cuttack, Tirtol and Kujang.

… The Minister said, the State Government would keep patronising such adventure sports in future.

The expedition is being orgnised by the State Sports and Youth Affairs Department. Its director Narayan Prasad Das was present on the occasion.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and neighbouring towns will be developed into a greater urban complex of international standards catering to the needs of 42 lakh people by 2030.

The final perspective plan to this effect was presented to chief minister Naveen Patnaik here today by a team from IIT, Kharagpur. B.K. Sengupta, heading the team, said the comprehensive development plan for Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Choudwar, Khurda and Jatni would be ready by August 2008.

Subsequently, development plans would be prepared for places like Rourkela, Puri, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Talcher-Angul, Kalinga Nagar and Jharsuguda industrial complex, said state urban development minister K.V. Singhdeo.

The final perspective plan has envisaged comprehensive development of a greater urban complex comprising twin cities of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and three adjoining towns spread over 721sqkm at an estimated cost of Rs 34,000 crore.

The required funds would be mobilised through public-private partnership, central government and state government and community contribution, said the urban development minister.

While 11 special zones have been earmarked for extensive development, four have been identified for intensive development and three places (Old Bhubaneswar, Choudwar and Old Cuttack) having heritage value have been set aside for restricted development. Seven sensitive pockets have also been identified.

A patch of farmland on the east of the Kuakhai flowing near Bhubaneswar has also been earmarked for agriculture. The final perspective plan has dwelt on various aspects like transport, traffic decongestion, upgrade of road system, slum development and drainage. Construction of overhead bridges and bypass and the upgrade of road systems have also been planned.

Drainage and sewerage development has also been planned in the twin cities.

A solid waste management plant has been proposed in Bhubaneswar. Bhubaneswar-Cuttack would be made slum-free. The shanties would be removed and the dwellers would be resettled in planned rehabilitation colonies to be built by private builders on the Dharavi model in Mumbai.

New Indian express reports that Orissa Stevedores Ltd (OSL) started the renovation of Gopalpur Minor Port and its expansion into an all weather port. Excerpts:

“This seasonal port work which was earlier managed by the State Government was entrusted to OSL last year to be developed into a full fledged, all weather port by OSL, on a build own operate share transfer (BOOST) basis for a concession period of 30 years.While the minor Gopalpur port was spread over 282.755 acres the planned all weather port will come up on 513.786 acres. As per the notification by the State Government the district administration has already initiated measures to hand over land to OSL besides leasing out some stone quarries.

As per the initial plans, the port would be developed in two phases at Rs 720 crore. The first phase of the project would involve upgradation and rehabilitation of the existing minor port at Rs 20 crore.

Phase II involves an investment of Rs 700 crore for the development of the port into an all-weather one. On completion of 30 years, the developed port will be handed over to the State Government. However, the private operator would also have to share its gross revenue with the State Government.”

Following is an excerpt from a report in Pragativadi on this.

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the development of Nrusinghanath and Harishankar temples, the two famous tourist and pilgrimage destinations of Orissa.

According to official sources, Rs 2.32 crore and Rs 2.62 crore have been sanctioned for Nrusinghanath and Harishankar temples respectively.

Besides, Rs 1.28 crore has been sanctioned for the 64-Yogini Pitha of Ranipur-Jharial. The Central funds will be used for beautifying the pilgrimage spots, making arrangements for bathing at the local fountain, construction of a rest house for the tourists and setting up new markets, the sources added.

See the complete article by an ISI professor of economics at http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071025/asp/opinion/story_8468453.asp. Following are some excerpts:

Ration shops are burning all over West Bengal. They are being attacked, looted and put on fire by groups of angry, disgruntled citizens, who seem to have decided that they have had enough. The upsurge has already exacted its toll and a few lives have been lost. Some have died in police firing. Others, comprising fair-price shopowners, who were unable to bear the fines and humiliation inflicted upon them by people’s courts, have committed suicide. One might see signs of a spontaneous revolt against the ruling Left in the string of riots or might detect the opposition marshalling its strength before the all-important panchayat polls next year. One might even smell Maoist provocation behind the sedition. But however political the riots might look on the surface, it is impossible to deny that without extreme economic hardship the people of rural Bengal, who have shown a traditionally high level of endurance, would not have resorted to such extreme measures. How acute are the hardships? What are the reasons behind them?

The problem essentially is one of hunger and starvation. …

In February 2007, the National Sample Survey had come out with a report on perceived inadequacy of food consumption in Indian households. …

Of the seventeen states considered in the table, West Bengal has the highest percentage of households (10.6 per cent) not getting enough to eat during some months of the year. The second is Orissa, with 4.8 per cent….

… Clearly, modernizing the trade in foodgrain cannot solve all the problems. Especially, it cannot solve the problems of those who do not have work and income for a significant part of the year. Indeed, a significant part of the foodgrain produced in the state is leaving its boundaries because the people within do not have enough money to buy food. So a longer-run remedy would be to create purchasing power within the state. This can be achieved only by promoting industrialization on a very large scale.

What is funny is that the CPI and CPIM leaders come to Orissa to preach their anti-industrialization message while favoring for industrialization of their home state. More funny is that many in Orissa look upto these CPI and CPIM leaders from outside state.

Following is an excerpt on this from a report in Telegraph.

… Subernarekha is an inter-state river flowing through Jharkhand, Orissa and Bengal. Under this agreement, water will be shared by the three states in the ratio of 71 per cent, 27 per cent and 2 per cent respectively.

On the Jharkhand side, construction of the Chandili dam and Galudih barrage on the upstream of Subernarekha and 90 per cent earthwork has been completed, officials in the state water resources department said.

However, this inter-state irrigation project is still incomplete as the Jambhira barrage and canal system on Jharkhand-Orissa border is yet to be completed. A sum of Rs 140 crore was spent on the construction of the barrage and canal during 2006-07. An estimated Rs 253 crore will be spent this year, said state water resources secretary Aurobindo Behera. Of it, Orissa will provide Rs 105 crore to Jharkhand this fiscal to complete work on its side. The project from Jharkhand is expected to be complete by December 31, 2008, so that Orissa is able to get irrigation water, said Behera. So far, construction of a 46km canal on Orissa side has been completed and the project is expected to be commissioned by 2009-10.

An estimated Rs 3,500 crore will be required for completion of the project, out of which Rs 1,756 crore will be made available under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme of Central government. Orissa has so far spent Rs 466 crore on the project, said the EIC.

Following is an excerpt on this from a report in newkerala.com.

A joint team of experts from the United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation and the Union government will prepare a report on the long term integrated sustainable development of coastal tourism in Orissa and West Bengal.

Orissa Minister for Tourism, Debi Mishra said this after he chaired a preliminary meeting convened here today for this purpose.

… Mr. Mishra said though around 20 per cent of the total coastline of the country lies in Orissa and West Bengal and has a high potential for development of beach tourism but it had not developed like Kerala and Goa.

The team would prepared a vision 2022 draft plan, a long term plan for the development of coastal tourism which would give a boost to the tourism and economy.

The team would visit the coastal areas from Digha to Gopalpur from the middle of November to Middle of December and would submit a report on January 30 after assessing the potential of Talsheri, Chandipur, Dhamra, Paradeep, Hukitola, Konark, Astaranga, Gopalpur, and Chilika for development, he said.

Economic times reports that Orissa is among the fiscally best performing states this year. It is 3rd in the list following Haryana and Delhi. Excerpts:

“When it comes to financial health Haryana, Delhi, Orissa are the best performing states in the country, while Bihar, Jharkhand and Kerala need to cut both fiscal and revenue deficits, an Assocham study has shown.

Haryana had the minimum fiscal deficit of 0.6 per cent in financial year 2006-07, though marginally up from 0.3 per cent in the previous year. Delhi was at the second spot with 0.7 per cent fiscal deficit while its revenue account showed a surplus of 3.57 per cent.

Though Orissa recorded the fiscal deficit of 1.1 per cent in FY’07, higher than 0.4 per cent in FY’06, it managed to remain well under the three per cent figure as recommended by the 12th Finance Commission. Its revenue surplus has increased from 0.76 per cent to 0.9 per cent during the same period.

Gujarat (2.5 per cent), Chhattisgarh (2.6 per cent), Tamil Nadu (2.7 per cent) and Karnataka (2.8 per cent) are the other states which have been able to keep their expenditures in the financial year 2006-07 in line with the target of 3 per cent fiscal deficit. “