If you think this is fair
It requires that "the consent of 70 per cent of affected families is mandatory where land is sought to be acquired for public-private partnership projects, and 80 per cent for private projects". Schools in mining areas are shut between 3 pm and 4 pm because of explosions so big that the school buildings tremble.In 2014, came the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act.
It will interest readers to know, particularly after reading about Lata Mangeshkar’s objection, of one small aspect of the impact that Ms Chandrasekhar has observed. Specifically, there is no consultation with landowners, their consent is not required before their land is taken and there is no question of assessing the impact. And then, unless written objections are filed in less than 30 days, the process begins by which the land "shall vest absolutely in the Central government (free from all encumbrances)"Observing the policies of Coal India Ltd (which controls some two-thirds of all mining in India), a parliamentary committee said that the tribal communities "hardly have any access to the official gazette wherein they could see that their lands are to be acquired for public purposes". Communities can also file for rights over common property resources, including community or village forests, religious and cultural sites and water bodies. She said first that it would affect her voice, and later that "if there is drilling on the road, the foundations of many buildings will be shaken".This week I learnt something about coal mining in India which I thought I should share with you.Aakar Patel is a writer and columnist. And we in the middle class are totally complicit in this theft.Let’s come to the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.Another law regulating land acquisition is the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, also called PESA.
Let’s first look at the laws regulating mining, which protect the property and rights of Indian citizens.That sounds reasonable to me. This law "recognises the customary rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest-dwellers to land and other resources.Sounds good Unfortunately, the ministry of tribal affairs itself observes that this law is mostly ignored by the government. And the act "also contains a provision requiring the prior consent of the concerned gram sabhas in Scheduled Areas before land can be acquired". It requires that panchayats be consulted before land is acquired in tribal areas for development projects, and also before the resettlement or rehabilitation of people affected by such projects. We insist that others, who are unwilling but weak, make all the sacrifices on our behalf and then we are puzzled when there is violence against the state. Knowing the reality of this naked land grab brings a very different meaning to words like "Maoist" and, of course, "development".
It will tell you a thing or two about how fairly we are going about the great project of development.Which one of us would give up our flats for development Our elite can even veto the construction of a greatly needed flyover."The law says that village assemblies must have a key role in deciding who has the rights to forest resources. This law is also more or less ignored by the government.It comes from a report my colleague Aruna Chandrasekhar is working on.I would say that this is actually quite deliberate. Social impact assessments required by the law "are almost never carried out" says Ms Chandrasekhar. In addition, it requires a "social impact assessment", meaning a study by independent experts to map a project’s impact on people’s lands and livelihoods, and its economic, social and cultural consequences, in consultation with affected communities. One reason is that the thrust bearings manufacturers government is not required to evaluate the accuracy or completeness of the assessment.Then there is the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which requires all projects of a certain size to get environmental clearance after public consultations with local communities likely to be affected by the project.
If you think this is fair, you should know that this law does not apply to those lands taken for coal mining.Ten years ago, in 2006, Lata Mangeshkar announced she would leave India if a flyover was built in front of her mansion on Mumbai’s Peddar Road.That flyover was, of course, not built.Under it the government issues an order published in its gazettes (when was the last time you read a government gazette ). Members of these communities can claim individual rights over forest land they depend on or have made cultivable. The industrial development of this country (it was reported on February 6, that Adani Power Ltd is building a $2 billion coal fired power plant in Jharkhand) is happening on the back of our theft of tribal land.The one law that the government properly follows and applies is the one under which it grabs land: the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957
Not only did it help in decongesting
In a shocking move, a fine of 15 per cent cut from monthly wages was decided upon to ensure implementation, resulting in, like Mexico, people buying cheap Turbomachinery bearings cars. It has been executed in Beijing, Mexico and Paris.Road space rationing is not new around the world.Some other cities that have implemented some form of road space rationing include Sao Paulo (1997), La Paz in 2003, San Jose (Costa Rica) in 2005, Honduras in 2008, Quito, Ecuador, in 2010, all of whom have not seen much success. A fine of 22 euros was fixed as penalty.ParisAfter way back in 1977 for a brief period, road rationing was implemented in the capital of France following heavy smog in March last year for one day. Globally known as "road space rationing", the move, which is expected to affect as many as three million car users in Delhi, has had mixed results in different cities of the world.As the city gears up for the maiden 15-day implementation of the Delhi government’s ambitious odd-even formula to curb the alarming levels of air pollution, the doubts over its success are as strong as its need.
It was a failure, forcing the authorities to rethink the proposal. The restrictions were first imposed in Beijing in July 2008 as a temporary measure just ahead of the Olympics as per which one-third of private vehicles were taken off the roads by allowing only even and only odd licence plates to drive on alternate days. Now, only about a fifth of private vehicles are asked to remain off the roads. Though initially the plan recorded some decrease in emission levels, reports of residents buying cheap diesel cars, switching number plates and other resorts started pouring in within weeks of the implementation.
They Chinese also banned 300,000 of their oldest, most polluting automobiles from entering the city.. Different from what Delhi plans to introduce, in Mexico, the authorities decided to restrict the circulation of diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles as per the day of the week and the last digit on the vehicle’s licence plate and is in effect between 5 am and 10 pm Monday to Friday for all vehicles circulating in the city. BogotaThe Colombian capital is another city that implemented what was popularised as Pico y Placa (peak and plate) as per which cars were banned during peak hours for two days a week.Mexico CityKnown as the Hoy no Circula programme in the South American city, the odd-even rationing policy, which was introduced as early as 1989, was designed to control the city’s vehicular circulation and thus reduce pollutant emissions. Some reports even showed that hourly air pollution records showed no evidence that the programme had improved the air quality. Called as the Circulation Alternée, the rule was imposed on March 17 when cars bearing even number plates were banned from entering the city between 5. Here is a look at the other cities this was implemented and whether or not it was a success:BeijingAir pollution has reached hazardous levels in the Chinese capital and Delhi plans to base its own implementation on the Beijing model.
Not only did it help in decongesting the city traffic with almost 1. A penalty of 200 yuan was imposed for breaking the rule. It was followed by the observance of a car-free day in September this year.3 million cars not allowed to be used, according to reports, it saw a 40 per cent decline in daily emissions.
Most recently, Beijing issued its first pollution red alert as thick smog enveloped the city for the second time in December. Heavy vehicles are banned from entering the city during the day.30 am until midnight. The plan, which is not new around the world, has been in execution in cities like Beijing, Mexico, Paris etc. Until the alert was lifted on Thursday, millions of vehicles were forced off the roads, factories and construction sites were shut down and schools and nurseries were asked to close. Subsequently, the plan was implemented on a permanent basis in October 2008 with some changes. In fact, pollution levels rose by almost 13 per cent. As per reports, it was a success in reducing emission levels and the authorities were able to accomplish their pollution control goals in a day
But what pushed me into action was the adverse
"With several of his neighbours and friends joining them in their efforts, George is planning to take his efforts to the next level by registering their community as an NGO. So my mother told me ‘why don’t you plant it outside ’ and we did the same. In a warm and humid city like Mumbai, there are so many varieties that can grow. Not only do they bring joy through their produce, they are also vital for ecological balance. Operating under the name The Turning Tide, George and Calvin’s Facebook community has already planted close to a 100 trees in the course of the last eight months. And the duo is leading from the front with 23 saplings planted within their own compound, another nine in their church and 15 more in the nearby Jogger’s Park."
George’s love for trees took root when he was a kid. My own mother suffered from Asthma and I’ve known people who’ve died of Lung cancer caused by pollution. For us it was symbolic because it was like we were recycling the paper we’ve used by planting trees. But sadly not much is being done. It’s been 20 years since then and that tree is still standing strong at 25-30 feet tall, reminding me how big an investment a single sapling is.". And the purpose and benefit of trees is that they purify air with 70 % more efficiency than normal plants. The 31-year-old Khar resident and his 20-year-old family friend Calvin Andrade have taken up the mantle of giving back to nature not just their share but also that of their fellow Mumbaikars. "We want to make this effort really big, but we don’t have much Speed Journal bearings funds. Narrating his tale, he says, "It was Christmas time and our Christmas tree was too big for our room. The underlying agenda for their efforts is very simple.
"To give back to future generations the very same privileges they enjoyed as kids — A greener and healthier environment."Each person needs about ten trees to offset the CO2 he releases in his lifetime," says amateur nature conservationist George Remedios, knowing fully well that this goal is an almost insurmountable one — at least in a city as pressed for space as Mumbai. As of now we are only doing it in our neighbourhood, but we would really like to expand it to other areas. But what pushed me into action was the adverse effects of disappearing trees. We started with our building and our church where we planted various varieties such as chiku, cocum, apple, figs and more — which is again vital because diversity too aids ecological balance."Telling us about his efforts so far, George says, "Our focus right now is more on fruit-bearing trees.Khar-based environmental-activists Calvin Andrade and George Remedios are on a mission to paint the town green by planting saplings.
"Telling us how he started The Turning Tide, he explains, "I always loved gardening and so did Calvin. And they are doing it one sapling at time. Going forward we want to register ourselves as an NGO and really step up the effort. So one day last year, Calvin and I took some old newspapers from our homes to the scrap dealer and with the money we got we bought our first few saplings — about seven or eight. But George is not one to give up