Latest news with #PESA
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
GO 49 to create new tiger conservation reserve kept in abeyance over Adivasi concerns
The State government on Monday (July 21) declared that the proposal to create Kumurambheem Conservation Reserve — tiger corridor area connecting Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra — is being kept in abeyance. The State government's decision comes in the wake of concerns raised by tribals and public representatives across tribal areas and detailed discussions held with various stakeholders. The GO.49 dated May 30, 2025, issued by Environment, Forests, Science & Technology department, potentially displaces tribal residents in more than 330 villages from their traditional habitat and restricts their forest rights and livelihoods. It aims at converting 1.49 lakh hectares across multiple forest ranges in Kumurambheem-Asifabad district, including Asifabad, Kerameri, Rebbena, Tiryani, Kagaznagar, Sirpur, Karjelli, Bejjur, and Penchikalpet into the 'Kumurambheem Conservation Reserve' as an extension to Kawal Tiger Reserve. Adivasi organisations who led sustained protests had maintained that the order was violative of their rights as per Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996, that aims at empowering tribal communities in the country's Scheduled Areas. The government, sensing widespread protests, called for a report from the District Collector to address the situation comprehensively. Later, the situation was also studied and reviewed by Minister for Forests Konda Surekha, Adilabad District In-charge Minister Jupally Krishna Rao and Minister for Panchayat Raj Dansari Anasuya. According to officials, the findings and recommendations were submitted to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy by the District Collector on July 11, and the decision to withhold the order until further notice followed on Monday. Ms. Surekha stated: 'Congress government is people's government. We will never take any decision that harms the rights or livelihoods of Adivasis and tribal communities. The concerns of the local people have been heard, and action has been taken accordingly. The welfare of every citizen, especially our tribal brothers and sisters, remains our top priority.'
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress to stage ‘economic blockade' to protest Chaitanya Baghel's arrest
Throwing its weight behind former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee on Saturday (July 19, 2025) announced a Statewide 'economic blockade' to protest against the arrest of Mr. Baghel's son Chaitanya Baghel by the Directorate of Enforcement. Mr. Chaitanya, 38, was arrested on Friday by the central agency in connection with the alleged liquor scam in the State. Calling the arrest a conspiracy to pressurise the Congress leadership in the State and allow the loot of its mineral resources, Chhattisgarh Congress chief Deepak Baij said that the 'economic blockade' would be enforced on July 22. 'Against this [Mr. Chaitanya's arrest], the Congress has decided to enforce an economic blockade at the divisional level and across the State and we will block all the major roads for the blockade, and we won't let the mineral resources of Chhattisgarh to be looted away. The Congress party is ready to fight for the rights of the people at every level,' he said. Mr. Baghel likened his son's arrest to those of other Congress leaders MLA Devendra Yadav – who is facing charges in an arson case in which a Superintendent of Police office was set ablaze – and jailed ex-Minister Kawasi Lakhma, an accused in the liquor scam. He said the arrest was a conspiracy to finish the Congress leadership and facilitate the handover of the State's natural resources to the Adani Group. He said that his son was not a politician and stayed away from public forums. Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of 'dedicating' the forests of Chhattisgarh to Mr. Adani. 'The BJP government has dedicated all the forests of Chhattisgarh to Adani ji. The forests are being destroyed, blatantly violating the PESA law and NGT directives. Former Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel ji was about to raise this issue in the assembly. To stop him, the ED raided his house early in the morning and arrested his son,' she wrote on X. 'Over the past 11 years, the country has clearly understood that these are tactics to suppress the voice of the people and oppress the opposition. But it is impossible to suppress the truth or intimidate the opposition with such tactics. Every single Congress worker stands firmly with Baghel ji,' she added. The ED has alleged that Mr. Chaitanya was a beneficiary in the liquor scam money laundering case and had dealt with proceeds of crime amounting to ₹1,000 crore besides receiving ₹16.70 crore.
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Jharkhand Cong initiates process to set up panchayat-level committees
Ranchi, Jul 19 (PTI) Jharkhand Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh on Saturday said the party has initiated a process to set up committees at the panchayat level. He said block-level committees have already been set up. 'There will be 12 members in a panchayat committee, comprising president, two vice presidents and nine general secretaries," Kamlesh said, addressing the party's 'Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan' (organisation rejuvenation campaign) and training programme here. Kamlesh said mandal committees will also be set up once the exercise of constituting panchayat committees is completed, as the president of the panchayat committee will be a member of the mandal committee. The event was attended by block presidents, block observers and mandal presidents of Ranchi and Khunti districts, besides senior party leaders and state ministers. The party's appointment letters were also handed over to the newly appointed mandal presidents on the occasion. 'The block presidents, observers and mandal presidents will visit villages and speak to the people and elected members of panchayat committees to know about the issues. Constituting a panchayat committee is a tough task, as we have to find persons who are fully devoted to the Congress," he said. 'We held a workshop on PESA in Ranchi. A model PESA law will be implemented," he added. Kamlesh said that the party is also fighting for the inclusion of Sarna religious code in the upcoming Census. PTI SAN SAN ACD (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 19, 2025, 17:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
MIDC begins land acquisition for JSW's steel plant in Gadchiroli, ET Infra
Advt Clearances, community resolutions pending By , ETInfra The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has initiated the process to acquire nearly 3,500 acres in Wadsa taluka of Gadchiroli district for JSW Group's proposed steel per TOI, the development follows JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal's announcement in February to set up an integrated steel facility in the Maoism-affected district with an investment of ₹1 lakh plant is expected to have a production capacity of 25 million tonnes per year—doubling JSW's current capacity and surpassing the 18 million tonnes produced by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).A source familiar with the matter said this would be the largest land acquisition in the district. "The process has been initiated. A formal proposal is close to finalisation," the person said, adding that most of the land is privately owned with some forested the proposal is approved by the state government, a notification will be issued, followed by local intimation and joint land measurement. No formal communication has yet been made to some of the affected villages fall under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), resolutions from gram sabhas may also be required, the source state government has identified Gadchiroli as a potential steel hub. Other companies with planned investments in the district include Lloyds Metals and Energy, which recently received clearance to expand iron ore mining, and Surjagad Ispat, which has proposed a plant in southern Gadchiroli.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
MIDC to acquire 3,500 acre for JSW Group steel plant in Gadchiroli
Nagpur: The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has initiated the process to acquire close to 3,500 acres for JSW Group's steel project in Gadchiroli. This follows the announcement by JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal that the group will set up the world's largest integrated steel plant in the district. The land parcel has been identified in the Wadsa taluka of the Maoism-affected district, said a source privy to the development. In terms of area, this will be the biggest land acquisition in the Maoist district, which the state plans to develop as a steel hub. The process has been initiated, and a formal proposal to be put up before the state govt is close to finalisation. The majority of the area is private land, apart from some patches of forest, the source said. The next step includes issuing a notification, intimating the locals, and starting joint measurement. So far, no formal communication has been made to the locals. It will only happen after the proposal is approved by the state govt, said the source. Since some of the villages in the district are covered under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), a resolution approving the acquisition is also likely to be needed, the source said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo In February this year, Jindal announced the plan to set up a steel plant when he attended an event, Advantage Vidarbha, patronised by Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari. Jindal said the plant will have a capacity of 25 million tonnes per year and will be built at an investment of Rs1 lakh crore. The single plant by Jindal will surpass the total capacity of the public sector undertaking Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), which stands at 18 million tonnes at present. JSW's own capacity will be doubled by the plant. The state govt plans to build Gadchiroli as a steel hub. At present, Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited is also building an integrated steel plant and recently got environmental clearance for expanding the capacity of its iron ore mine. Another company, Surjagad Ispat, also has plans for a steel plant in southern Gadchiroli.
