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Time of India
5 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Udupi to get Rs 150 crore for landslide, sea erosion mitigation
Udupi: The Karnataka govt has earmarked Rs 150 crore to address recurring issues of landslides and sea erosion in Udupi, said revenue minister Krishna Byre Gowda during his visit to the sea erosion-hit Moolur Thottam area in Kaup on Wednesday. The minister told reporters that sea erosion has been a serious concern for nearly four decades. "Over the years, several measures were implemented, but in many places, they were not sustainable and there have been new places prone to sea erosion. The state government has now drawn up a Rs 300 crore mitigation plan for the three coastal districts, of which Rs 100 crore is earmarked for Udupi," he said. He said that the deputy commissioner was directed to submit a detailed proposal for Rs 100 crore, which will be finalised shortly. "This is part of a long-term strategy to contain sea erosion. Several methods have been tried over the years, some succeeded, some did not. I will hold consultations with experts, and once I am convinced of the most effective approach, we will proceed with the final action plan," the minister explained. Further, the minister said that in the coastal and Malnad regions, frequent landslides during monsoons prompted the govt to act. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bone On Bone? This Knee Sleeve Will Transform Your Knees Back Wellnee Undo by Taboola by Taboola Based on studies by the Geological Survey of India, sensitive landslip-prone areas were identified. As a preventive measure, the govt proposed the construction of retaining walls worth Rs 500 crore across six districts. Udupi district will receive Rs 50 crore under this initiative. "In total, Udupi district will get Rs 150 crore, including Rs 100 crore for sea erosion and Rs 50 crore for landslip-prone areas. The DC was asked to identify vulnerable locations and submit a consolidated proposal," the minister said, adding that full-scale implementation may take up to two years. He also noted that IIT-Madras submitted technical recommendations for sea erosion control, which will be looked into. During his day-long visit to Udupi, he said that the damage reported this year is less compared to the previous monsoon. Urea shortage raised with Centre On the urea shortage, the minister criticised the central govt for not meeting the state's full requirement. "We are still short of 15%–20% of the urea stock. Some regions received early rainfall, resulting in early sowing. We submitted reports and wrote letters to Union ministers, including those from Karnataka, but there was no response," he said. He assured that district administrations, including DCs and SPs, are ensuring responsible distribution of available urea and urged the Centre to supply the remaining stock. Responding to a query on the 9/11 issue regarding land transactions, the minister said he would take it up with the rural development and panchayat raj and urban development minister. "We will discuss the matter and look into possible solutions," he added.
Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- Indian Express
11 years of Malin: 23 villages under threat of landslide, rehabilitation of six completed
Every year on July 29, Budhaji Damse, founder of the Shashwat Trust visits the erstwhile Malin village in Ambegaon taluka to pay respects to the over 100 people who had died in the landslide that had erased the village 11 years ago. However, Damse has other worries —just 4 km from Malin is the hamlet of Pasarwad, whose residents literally live under the Sword of Damocles. 'Post Malin, Pasarwadi was one of the 23 villages that was meant to be rehabilitated due to the possibility of landslides in the area. While the land for rehabilitation has been identified, Pasarwadi is yet to be rehabilitated. I have relatives living there as well as workers of our Trust,' he said. Pasarwadi is not alone after Malin the Geological Survey of India (GSI) had surveyed the district to identify landslide prone villages in the district. Twenty three villages spread across Ambegaon, Khed, Velhe, Maval, Bhor and Junnar taluka were identified as landslide prone with the GSI suggesting their rehabilitation. Damse — whose trust has been working with tribal farmers across Ambegaon, Junnar and Khed taluka — said only the village of Megholi in the taluka has been rehabilitated at a different place 'For Parawadi, the land has been identified but the physical rehabilitation is yet to happen. This year the rainfall has been within range so far, so there has been no problem for these villages,' he said. Located across the ranges of the Western Ghats, all the 23 villages are located at an elevation. Given the typography of these areas, the villages have been identified as landslide prone. District Collector Jitendra Dudi told The Indian Express that of the rehabilitations of 23 villages, six have been completed. 'Five of these villages are located in Ambegaon taluka of Pune district,' he said. Dudi said the district had received Rs 3.65 crore for rehabilitation. 'Another survey was done when it was revealed that two of the villages identified were not in the landslide prone area so they were taken off the list,' he said. The other villages, he said, have demanded for permanent rehabilitation, but work is yet to be completed. 'Work on preparing the plan for the rehabilitation is in its final stages,' he said. Malin was wiped out from the face of the earth on June 29, 2014, when a portion of the hill overlooking the small tribal village slid over it. Over 100 people had died, which included women and children, many of whom were either sleeping or preparing to get ready. The District Collectorate had rehabilitated survivors at a separate area and the rehabilitation was termed ideal. Damse said many of the survivors have now taken up non-farming activities as their livelihood. 'Over all things, the process has been good. People have no complaints so far,' he said.
The Diplomat
2 days ago
- Business
- The Diplomat
India's Northeast Identified as Promising Area for Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals
The Geological Survey of India says that Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are promising zones for graphite, vanadium and REEs. India's border region of the Northeast has been identified as an area with 'promising' deposits of rare earth elements and critical minerals essential for digital and defense manufacturing, and clean energy transition. After years of research and exploration, the state-owned Geological Survey of India (GSI) has concluded that 'the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have emerged as promising zones for graphite, vanadium, REEs, base metals, gold, coal and limestone, while Meghalaya and Nagaland hold extensive resources of limestone, coal, and minor strategic metals.' The 63-page report by GSI added that the country's growing demand for such resources underlines 'the need to identify and develop domestic sources, particularly in geologically promising regions such as the northeast.' The rare earth elements (REE) are a set of 17 metallic elements grouped into light and heavy categories. They are necessary for the production of more than 200 consumer products, such as cellular telephones, computer hard drives, electric and hybrid vehicles, and televisions. Defense applications include guidance systems, lasers, electronic displays, and radar and sonar systems. India's northeastern states, especially the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, have been known for their hydrocarbon reserves since the colonial era. Rich deposits of uranium have also been discovered in Meghalaya, but extraction of these deposits has been opposed by local organizations. The GSI report identified Lodoso village in Arunachal Pradesh's Papum Pare district as having 2.15 million tons of REE-bearing ferruginous phyllite, a type of metamorphic rock. In Assam, the concentrations of REE ranged from 1,000 to 5,000 parts per million, while it was between 3,646 and 5,100 parts in Meghalaya. The GSI's estimate of REE deposits in the Northeast is part of the total of 482.6 metric tons of various cut-off grades in 34 exploration projects in the country. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) has identified around 7.23 million tons across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. The discovery of REEs in the Northeast assumes importance given India's heavy dependence on importing finished products while exporting raw REE ore. India's REE imports are primarily sourced from China, which comprised 81 percent of imports in 2022. China is the world's leading exporter of rare earth magnets and has imposed export restrictions on REE and finished magnets. As part of its strategy to diversify the sourcing of rare earths, the Indian government established the Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) in 2019 as a joint venture between the National Aluminum Company Ltd., Hindustan Copper Ltd., and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Ltd. Its goal is to secure access to mineral resources abroad. India signed agreements for the supply of lithium with several countries, including one with Argentina in 2024. Early this year, the government approved the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to be implemented over seven years till 2031 to boost domestic manufacturing of rare earth magnets. India's overseas endeavor began last year when it joined the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP), a U.S.-led initiative of 14 countries, which is aimed at securing supply chains for critical minerals. India's engagement with Japan and Australia under the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) is also aimed at reducing dependence on China. In July, a joint statement was released in Washington during the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting, announcing the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, through which the four-nation grouping plans to secure a steady supply of critical minerals and reduce dependence on China. The GSI has already handed over 38 blocks for exploration across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland in the Northeast, of which seven have already been auctioned. These blocks cover a range of mineral commodities, including graphite, vanadium, REE, limestone, iron ore, glass sand, copper, nickel, chromium, and cobalt. The GSI believes that India's northeastern region could be central to the 'national strategy for mineral security.' Due to topographical challenges, complex geology, remoteness, and political instability, the resources of the Northeast had remained largely unexplored. This could change now as India surges on the path of self-reliance in critical and industrial minerals.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Kishan Reddy bats for strengthening Indo-Peru ties
Hyderabad: Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy extended his greetings to the people of Peru on its 204th Independence Day. On Thursday, he was the chief guest at a celebration held in Delhi to honour this significant day. Kishan Reddy noted that Peru and India have maintained friendly relations since 1963, and these ties have strengthened in recent years. Both countries are committed to democratic values and share a mutual understanding on key international issues. He expressed happiness over their cooperative efforts to enhance harmony among South American countries. Peru, one of the most active trading nations in South America, is becoming an increasingly preferred partner for India. The trade relationship between the two countries is strengthening year by year. This collaboration goes beyond economic matters, encompassing cultural and traditional exchanges that foster a sense of brotherhood among their people. Notably, bilateral trade has reached $6 million. Steps are being taken to sign a free trade agreement to further bolster economic relations between the two nations, with negotiations currently ongoing. In an era when the world is advancing toward sustainable development, both India and Peru are focusing on achieving further growth in this area through joint efforts. Peru's rich mineral resources—including gold, silver, zinc, mercury, copper, lithium, rare earth elements, and iron ore—will support India's goals in eco-friendly energy initiatives. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India has launched the National Critical Minerals Mission to achieve self-sufficiency in the critical minerals sector. In March 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Geological Survey of India and Peru's Instituto Geológico Minero y Metallúrgico (INGEMMET). There are also opportunities for cooperation in fields such as space research, information technology, renewable energy, medicine, and agriculture. A team of Indian mining officials will participate in the 'Perumin-2025' program to be held in Arequipa, Peru, this September. The International Potato Centre, based in Peru, is planning to establish its South Asia regional office in Agra, symbolising the strong agricultural relations between the two countries. This centre is expected to benefit Indian farmers and enhance creativity in agricultural research. Kishan Reddy expressed gratitude to the Peruvian authorities for the opportunity to celebrate International Yoga Day at iconic sites such as Machu Picchu, the Carl Valley, and the Coricancha Temple.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Critical minerals are a strategic asset – India must not fall behind
Critical minerals are emerging as the defining geoeconomic axis of the 21st century. These are no longer peripheral to industrial development but lie at the heart of advanced manufacturing, clean energy systems, strategic technologies and national security. Energy transition, digitalisation and the pursuit of supply chain resilience are rapidly amplifying the demand for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and rare earth elements. Their availability and accessibility will determine the pace and quality of growth for all major economies. Unlike fossil fuels, critical minerals are characterised by high geographical concentration, limited transparency and complex value chains. China dominates the midstream processing stage for most key minerals, accounting for over 90 per cent of rare earth refining, 70 per cent of cobalt processing and close to 60 per cent of lithium conversion capacity. These are not incidental advantages but outcomes of decades of strategic investment, policy coherence and state-backed industrial planning. With China 20 years ahead in the supply chain race, India cannot afford to anchor its future energy, mobility or technology aspirations on supply chains that remain opaque, concentrated and subject to political risk. In 2022, the Ministry of Mines identified 30 critical minerals based on their strategic importance to clean energy and future technologies, high import dependence, domestic resource constraints and relevance for agricultural and industrial needs. In January, the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) was announced to secure critical mineral supply chains by ensuring mineral availability. Its success will rest on how effectively it translates intent into action. Currently, India is 100 per cent import dependent for lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements and silicon. At the same time, India's domestic resource base for critical minerals is underdeveloped. The Geological Survey of India has ramped up exploration, with 195 projects underway over the past year and another 227 approved for the upcoming year. In response to the inclusion of critical minerals in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, the government launched four tranches of auctions for critical mineral blocks last year, and a fifth was concluded in January 2025. However, the auctions revealed persistent challenges. A large number of blocks were annulled as high capital costs, limited domestic processing capacity and a shortage of technically qualified bidders dampened participation. These outcomes underscore the need for policy refinement to attract credible investment and build industry confidence in the viability of critical mineral development. As India seeks to scale up domestic exploration, it must also confront a major structural limitation: Lack of sufficient capacity to refine and process minerals into battery-grade or component-ready materials. This midstream bottleneck risks locking the country into a dependence on foreign processors, especially for lithium, cobalt and rare earths. To address this, the NCMM plans to set up dedicated mineral processing zones with modern infrastructure. Within these, production incentives modelled on PLI schemes could be used to catalyse private investment into refining, separation and chemical conversion facilities. Amid growing concern over mineral security, recent export restrictions on rare earth elements by China have also exposed the vulnerability of India's automotive sector, with some firms already indicating potential production cuts. Rare earth magnets are essential to electric and internal combustion vehicles alike. To mitigate this risk, India must accelerate investments in independent supply chains, including targeted exploration, processing capacity and strategic partnerships. Given the demand intensity and India's current reserves, international engagement and friendshoring will be vital to the creation of a diversified and resilient supply chain. India has taken steps by joining the Mineral Security Partnership and initiating collaborations with Australia, Argentina and others. These partnerships signal a deeper alignment with global efforts to diversify supply chains away from China. India should leverage geopolitical platforms such as the Quad and G20 to secure further stable mineral trade relationships, promote joint ventures and facilitate best-practice sharing. Developing a critical mineral stockpiling framework will also be essential to buffer against supply disruptions and price volatility. These efforts must remain strategically aligned with broader foreign policy objectives. India must also build domestic self-sufficiency in critical minerals through more sustainable and circular approaches. Recycling offers a promising path to reduce import dependency. The recycling chain for batteries and electronics is fragmented and largely informal. Without investment in formal collection, dismantling and high-efficiency recovery, circularity will remain aspirational. India must also prioritise resource recovery by incentivising recyclers and by expanding formal infrastructure for waste collection. Sustainable mining practices and responsible sourcing of critical minerals are crucial. Several critical mineral reserves lie in tribal or ecologically sensitive areas where inadequate environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance has led to delays, protests and legal challenges. India must adopt comprehensive ESG frameworks in mining, incorporating community trust-building and third-party audit mechanisms. Strengthening community participation through local benefit-sharing and decision-making will be key to fostering enduring community trust and support for mining activities. Policymaking must be informed by rigorous, sector-specific assessments of future demand, supply and technological developments. India should periodically reassess its critical mineral list and adjust sourcing strategies in line with domestic and global shifts. The contest for critical minerals will shape the contours of future economic resilience and technological sovereignty. India has the market scale, industrial ambition and diplomatic leverage to lead. It must now ensure timely execution, sustained institutional support and a clear commitment to self-reliance, sustainability and global alignment. Kant is former G20 sherpa of India and former CEO of Niti Aayog and Chhina is a policy specialist — climate and energy
