[chhattisgarh-net] Digest Number 1720

[chhattisgarh-net]

Title: chhattisgarh-net

chhattisgarh-net Messages In This Digest (5 Messages) 1. Appeal letter on illegality of forest diversion - please sign From: ravi 2a. RTI Reveals Steel Company's Fraud From: Ramesh Agrawal 3. Primitive Tribes issue in Lok Sabha From: Shubhranshu Choudhary 4. Education of Tribal Girls in Rajya Sabha From: Shubhranshu Choudhary 5. Chhattisgarh's bonanza bonus for one million paddy farmers From: Shubhranshu Choudhary View All Topics | Create New Topic Messages 1. Appeal letter on illegality of forest diversion - please sign Posted by: "ravi" ra.ravishan...@gmail.com   ra_ravishankar Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:44 pm (PST) From: Shankar Gopalakrishnan <mailto:shankargopal@myfastmail.com> Passing on a CSD signature appeal on the clash between forest diversion and the Forest Rights Act. Would people be willing to sign? Dear all, Over the last year, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has shown its contempt for the law by diverting forest lands in violation of the Forest Rights Act and of the rights of the people of those areas. This has destroyed both forests and people's homelands and caused immense damage to the environment, livelihoods and conservation. In this context, we are circulating an appeal letter to the Prime Minister demanding that the MoEF comply with the law. The letter is pasted below. Please write to <forestcampaign@gmail.com> by Thursday, December 25th, with your name and/or the name of your organisation if you would be interested in signing this appeal letter. Please also circulate the letter more widely. On behalf of the Convening Collective Campaign for Survival and Dignity ------- To: Dr. Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India and Minister for Environment and Forests Government of India Sub:- Continued illegal diversion of forest land in violation of applicable statutes, in particular Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act Dear Sir, We are writing to you to express our deep concern at the repeated violation of the law by the Ministry of Environment and Forests when diverting forest land for non-forest use under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The Ministry's failure to respect, acknowledge and abide by the statutory requirements gives rise to concern that it is seeking to allow diversion at all costs, rather than fulfilling its constitutional duty and mandate. Diversion of forest lands for industrial, commercial and other projects has been increasing rapidly over the past decade; the annual rate of diversion between 2002 and 2008 was 50% higher than that between 1980 and 2002. The acceleration in diversion reflects increased pressure from industry, especially mining companies, for access to minerals and forest land. Forty five mining projects have been given in principle or final clearance in just October and November 2008, and 74 more are pending. Many of India's protected areas, wildlife corridors and community forests have been greatly harmed by forest diversion for extremely destructive activities. Such forest destruction is now a serious threat to forests, wildlife and to the livelihoods of tribals and forest dwellers in India. On January 1st, 2008, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was brought into force. Since this law seeks to protect the traditional rights of forest dwellers, it has a direct bearing on questions of forest diversion. In particular there are at least two aspects of this law that would directly affect the legality of forest diversion: * Under section 4(5), no forest dweller can be removed from his or her lands until recognition of rights is complete under the Act. Further forest lands on which other rights – such as to minor forest produce – are exercised can also not be diverted until recognition is complete. As such, from January 1st onwards, no lands which are being cultivated by forest dwellers or which are being used for other rights can be diverted until recognition of rights is complete. * Under sections 3(1)(i) and 5 of the Act, forest dwelling communities are empowered to also protect and conserve forests. Section 3(1)(e) also gives Primitive Tribal Groups and pre-agricultural communities a right to their habitat. Forests where communities have such rights, or where they have declared their intent to protect, clearly cannot be diverted without the consent of the gram sabha of the concerned community – which is a statutory authority under the Act. Despite this, the Ministry has continued with forest diversion for large projects in direct violation of these statutory requirements, as the above statistics show. Even in areas where forest dwelling communities have asserted their rights and invoked the Forest Rights Act – such as the Niyamgiri hills, where Vedanta plans bauxite mining, or the POSCO steel plant project – the Ministry has continued to support diversion before the Supreme Court. We call upon you to immediately halt such illegal actions by the Ministry and to ensure that the forest diversion process is undertaken in compliance with the letter and spirit of applicable laws. Rampant diversion of forest land is not in the interests of wildlife, forest dwellers or the nation. Sincerely, Back to top Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post Messages in this topic (1) 2a. RTI Reveals Steel Company's Fraud Posted by: "Ramesh Agrawal" ramesh.agra...@gmail.com   rameshsatyam Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:10 am (PST) RTI Reveals Steel Tycoons Fraud An investment certificate related to a leading steel company M/s Monnet Ispat & Energy Limited, for its steel plant in district Raigarh of Chhattisgarh raises some very scathing questions to its environment related clearances. Monnet Ispat submitted an investment certificate of Rs. 183.04 crore to Government of Chhattisgarh through Secretariat of Industries to avail miscellaneous incentives like exemption from Entry Tax, Sales Tax, Stamp duty, Interest & Capital subsidies etc amounting millions of Rupees invoking the states investment friendly industrial policy. According to certificate issued by a said Delhi based Charted Accountant firm M/s O.P.Bagla & Co., Monnet has made total investment of 183.04 crore of Rupees till 31st March 2006, in its Steel Plant at village Naharpali, Raigarh district. Since the investment was more than 100 crore, this required a plant like Monnet to seek environment clearance from Union Ministry of Environment & Forests. But Monnet did not do this. Instead they went ahead to procure a consent to establish from the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Bord. There are two problems here: first that the Chhatisgarh Environment Conservation Board could not grant this consent without the environment clearance being in place. And two: Monnet did not think it necessary to procure the environment clearance and commenced production of sponge iron in March 2006. It was only a year later, in March 2007 that the Company approached Central Government for clearance of expansion of existing plant involving investment of more than Rupees two thousand Crore. The plant, for which the expansion was sought, had no environment clearance. Ironically, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) never reviewed this fact. There is clear evidence to support all of the above through documents procured through Right to Information. This entire episode has once again exposed the deep holes in the functioning of regulatory authorities at state and central levels. It is not that they are unaware of these facts as submissions and petitions have been sent to them and media articles have highlighted it. The plant may be locked and criminal cases may be registered against high profile authorities for the forgery. But the critical question is whether they will choose to take any action, or be silent spectators to this mockery of law and regulation. Monnets surely is not an isolated example. Ramesh Agrawal Jan Chetana Satyam Kunj, Naya Ganj RAIGARH (C.G.) 496001 Mob: 09301011022 Telefax: 07762-222710 Back to top Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post Messages in this topic (2) 3. Primitive Tribes issue in Lok Sabha Posted by: "Shubhranshu Choudhary" s...@cgnet.in Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:10 am (PST) Primitive Tribes ---------------------------------------------------------- 15:13 IST Lok Sabha The Ministry has been implementing a 100% Central Sector Scheme viz. "Development of Primitive Tribal Groups" for over all development of Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs). It is a very flexible scheme. Any activity/work, which is connected with the survival, protection and development of PTGs, can be taken up under the scheme. The activities/works may include provisions for housing, land distribution, land development, agricultural development, cattle development, income generation programmes, health-care, infrastructure development, social security, etc. This was stated by the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Dr. Rameshwar Oraon in a reply to a question by Shri Pratik P. Patil in Lok Sabha today. He further stated that during 10th Five Year Plan, an amount of Rs.105.03 crores has been released on the basis of annual activities proposed by various States/UT. This includes Rs.20.48 crores released for insurance coverage of 4.09 lakhs heads of PTG families under Janashree Bima Yojana of Life Insurance Corporation of India. Further, from the 11th Five Year Plan, the Ministry has started funding long-term Conservation-cum-Development (CCD) Plan for the entire Plan period, aiming at hamlet/habitat development of PTGs, prepared by each State/UT on the basis of need assessed through baseline surveys or other surveys conducted by them. Rs.57.86 crores & Rs.128.63 crores have been released to States/UT and NGOs during 2007-08 & 2008-09 (as on 15.12.2008), respectively under these CCD Plans. There are 75 identified Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) in the country and their State-wise population as available in the Ministry is given in Annexure. Click here for :-Annexure Back to top Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post Messages in this topic (1) 4. Education of Tribal Girls in Rajya Sabha Posted by: "Shubhranshu Choudhary" s...@cgnet.in Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:23 am (PST) Education of Tribal Girls 16:26 IST Rajya Sabha The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has revised the scheme of Educational Complex in Low Literacy Pockets for Development of women literacy in tribal areas and renamed as 'Strengthening Education among Scheduled Tribes (ST) Girls in Low Literacy Districts' during the Eleventh Five Year Plan. It is a gender specific 100% Central Sector Scheme. Coverage of the scheme includes 54 identified Districts where the ST population is 25% or more, and ST female literacy rate below 35% as per 2001 census. This was stated by the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Dr. Rameshwar Oraon in a reply to a question by Shri B.J. Panda and Ms. Mabel Rebello in Rajya Sabha today. This scheme also covers tribal blocks in districts other than 54 identified districts where ST population is 25% or more, and ST female literacy rate below 35% and areas below block level inhabited by notified Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs). Naxal affected areas are given priority out of the aforesaid areas. This scheme is implemented through Non-Governmental Organizations/autonomous society/Institute of State/UT. Under the scheme financial assistance is given for ST Girls Hostels, Educational Complexes at primary and middle/secondary levels. Beside, free schooling, boarding/lodging, uniforms, books, food, cast stipend and incentive to girls students are also provided. In addition, the organization running the hostel educational complex is also required to impart Vocational/Skill Development Training among ST girls. Back to top Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post Messages in this topic (1) 5. Chhattisgarh's bonanza bonus for one million paddy farmers Posted by: "Shubhranshu Choudhary" s...@cgnet.in Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:52 am (PST) Chhattisgarh's bonanza bonus for one million paddy farmers Raipur, Dec 24 (IANS) Keeping up its poll promises, Chhattisgarh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced Tuesday it would provide Rs.220 per 100 kg as a bonus amount to farmers during the ongoing government-sponsored paddy procurement drive. The announcement for bonus bonanza was made by Chief Minister Raman Singh after presiding over the maiden cabinet meeting at the state secretariat here. An 11-member cabinet team was sworn in Monday. The BJP had announced in the run up to the November assembly polls to a 90-member state assembly that it would give Rs.270 per quintal bonus amount to farmers if returned to power. "I am honouring the commitment what I made before polls, the farmers who are selling their paddy to government through co-operative societies during present procurement period, Oct 20-Jan 31, are entitled to get bonus in two instalments," Raman Singh told reporters. The announcement will benefit about one million paddy growers of the state. The bonus amount will be in addition to government purchase rate, Rs.850 per quintal, fixed for common grade paddy and Rs.880 for Grade-A category paddy. IANS Back to top Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity  1 New Members Visit Your Group Yahoo! Finance It's Now Personal Guides, news, advice & more. Yahoo! Groups Going Green Zone Save the planet. Your resources to go green. All-Bran 10 Day Challenge Join the club and feel the benefits. Need to Reply? Click one of the "Reply" links to respond to a specific message in the Daily Digest. 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