SALEM: Confronted with severe resistance from environmental activists and farmers, private sector steel giant Jindal has pulled out from its proposed iron-ore mining plans at Kanchamalai even before a mandatory environmental impact assessment could be carried out in the area.
The hushed up matter has come to light now through an official confirmation, three months after the company’s decision. However, the company is in no exit mood as it had expanded its steel plant at Potenery in Salem district from 1 million tonnes to 2 million tonnes, in just a year with a plan to feed itself from the iron ore mined from Kanchamalai.
The company is vigorously pursuing the Tiruvanamalai iron ore reserves over an area of 325 hectares in the forested Kavuthi Malai and Vediappan Malai in Imam Karianthal village in Chengam taluk. A public hearing is scheduled to be held on December 27.
“This is a historic development and a first of its kind in this part of the state,” said Piyush Sethia of ‘Speak Out Salem’ which spearheaded the anti-mining movement with active support from the farmers surrounding the Kanchamalai hill.“We have saved our hill rich in herbs, a pilgrimage site and a source of many natural springs that had been the lifeline of thousands of people living in the ten villages around here,” said a jubilant farmer leader R S Mani of the Kanchamalai Padugappu Iyakkam.
The resistance to Kanchamalai iron ore mining started on May 29, 2008 when the Supreme Court empowered committee members, Mahendra Vyas and Jayakrishna arrived and elicited views of the people. The people came to know of the proposal only at that stage.
No official study or consent from the people was done on part of the Tamil Nadu Government. The Kanchamalai Padugappu Iyakkam was formed and a mass RTI application filing protest, siege of the mining department and Collector’s office and a series of demonstrations and meetings were held.
Jindal Steel Works (JSW) Salem plant (formerly SISCOL) had planned to tap low grade magnetite quartz ore available in Kanchamalai area in Salem and in Tiruvannamalai district (Tamil Nadu) by putting up mining facilities at an investment of Rs 400 crore. 75 million tonnes of resource was to be tapped by TIMCO a joint venture between Jindal Vijaynagar Ltd and TIDCO was to supply the iron ore to JSW Steel’s Salem facility.
638 hectares was sought at Kanchamalai, a place rich in indigenous herbs, and 330 hectares at Tiruvannamalai district. Around 90,000 trees at Kanchamalai and 200,000 trees in Tiruvannamalai district including those grown under the Japanese government funded Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project in the last ten years at a cost of over Rs 10 crore will be felled if the project is cleared.
Courtesy: Indian Express, 26-12-08
26 December, 2008
12 December, 2008
Genetically modified food, a hot potato for the Govt
New Delhi: After imposing a ban on smoking in public, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is working towards banning genetically modified (GM) seeds.
He says his ministry will oppose the entry of GM seeds into the country. The move comes after months of protests by activists, farmers and consumers across India.
“As the Union Health Minister, I will continue opposing it. BT Brinjal is being brought into the country without proper research on its safety. We should oppose it collectively,” Ramadoss says.
The minister's remarks come at a time when BT Brinjal — the first GM vegetable — is on the verge of getting approval for commercial release.
Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, however, is well known for his advocacy of GM food.
“Of course the Government is pro-GM otherwise the GM technology would not be there. We already have GM cotton and there are many other products that are in the pipeline and will be in the market,” Sibal says.
Inadequate research and lack of independent monitoring of the impact of GM food, more specifically BT Brinjal, will certainly give fodder for confrontation.
There have been reports of several deaths across the world following allergic reaction to GM food.
“Latest Austrian study released three weeks ago shows that the mice become infertile after being introduced to GM foods,” Kavitha Kuruganti, a Green Peace activist, says.
What is worrying activists and farmers is the hurry with which the Government seems to be embracing GM technology, when around 180 countries in the world do not allow it.
Courtesy: CNN-IBN
He says his ministry will oppose the entry of GM seeds into the country. The move comes after months of protests by activists, farmers and consumers across India.
“As the Union Health Minister, I will continue opposing it. BT Brinjal is being brought into the country without proper research on its safety. We should oppose it collectively,” Ramadoss says.
The minister's remarks come at a time when BT Brinjal — the first GM vegetable — is on the verge of getting approval for commercial release.
Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, however, is well known for his advocacy of GM food.
“Of course the Government is pro-GM otherwise the GM technology would not be there. We already have GM cotton and there are many other products that are in the pipeline and will be in the market,” Sibal says.
Inadequate research and lack of independent monitoring of the impact of GM food, more specifically BT Brinjal, will certainly give fodder for confrontation.
There have been reports of several deaths across the world following allergic reaction to GM food.
“Latest Austrian study released three weeks ago shows that the mice become infertile after being introduced to GM foods,” Kavitha Kuruganti, a Green Peace activist, says.
What is worrying activists and farmers is the hurry with which the Government seems to be embracing GM technology, when around 180 countries in the world do not allow it.
Courtesy: CNN-IBN
10 December, 2008
Anbumani to oppose entry of genetically modified food
KANCHEEPURAM: Union Minister for Health Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday said that he would oppose any move to introduce genetically modified food or seeds in the agriculture sector.
Addressing a State-level farmer’s conference, organised by the Thamizhnadu Uzhavar Periyakkam, here, he said, “As a Central Minister I will oppose any move to introduce GM food or seeds in India.”
The Pattali Makkal Katchi had taken a policy decision to oppose introduction of genetically modified seeds.
He said efforts were being made by certain quarters to introduce Bt.Brinjal, a genetically modified variety, without conducting any test on Indian soil.
“The Ministry of Health will oppose it and will not allow introduction of such a variety without conducting proper tests.”
He said the PMK, if voted to power in Tamil Nadu, would present a separate budget for agriculture.
Delivering the special address, PMK founder S.Ramadoss said that heavy loss suffered by farmers in taking up agricultural operations forced them to dispose of their land holdings.
“A day will come when, by issuance of a G.O., your lands will be given back to you and those who had bought from you will be made to enter into a long-term lease agreement with you.”
Dr.Ramadoss warned that if the trend of “taking away” cultivable lands from farmers for setting up special economic zones were to continue, it would lead to a revolt.
If it happened, no government would have the strength to face such situation. Twenty-five resolutions, including a demand for a separate budget for agriculture, industrial status for agriculture, fair and justifiable rate for agriculture produce, setting up of special agriculture economic zones and free distribution of seeds were adopted at the conference.
PMK president and executive president, TUP, G.K.Mani, natural farming concept proponent Nammalwar and Union Minister for State (Railways) R.Velu participated in conference.
Courtesy: The Hindu, 10-12-2008
Addressing a State-level farmer’s conference, organised by the Thamizhnadu Uzhavar Periyakkam, here, he said, “As a Central Minister I will oppose any move to introduce GM food or seeds in India.”
The Pattali Makkal Katchi had taken a policy decision to oppose introduction of genetically modified seeds.
He said efforts were being made by certain quarters to introduce Bt.Brinjal, a genetically modified variety, without conducting any test on Indian soil.
“The Ministry of Health will oppose it and will not allow introduction of such a variety without conducting proper tests.”
He said the PMK, if voted to power in Tamil Nadu, would present a separate budget for agriculture.
Delivering the special address, PMK founder S.Ramadoss said that heavy loss suffered by farmers in taking up agricultural operations forced them to dispose of their land holdings.
“A day will come when, by issuance of a G.O., your lands will be given back to you and those who had bought from you will be made to enter into a long-term lease agreement with you.”
Dr.Ramadoss warned that if the trend of “taking away” cultivable lands from farmers for setting up special economic zones were to continue, it would lead to a revolt.
If it happened, no government would have the strength to face such situation. Twenty-five resolutions, including a demand for a separate budget for agriculture, industrial status for agriculture, fair and justifiable rate for agriculture produce, setting up of special agriculture economic zones and free distribution of seeds were adopted at the conference.
PMK president and executive president, TUP, G.K.Mani, natural farming concept proponent Nammalwar and Union Minister for State (Railways) R.Velu participated in conference.
Courtesy: The Hindu, 10-12-2008
21 November, 2008
Climate-ready : Seed multinationals rush for patents
SIX leading multinational seed companies, BASF, Monsanto, Syngenta, DuPont, Bayer and Dow, have claimed patent rights on seeds and knowledge designed to combat the impact of climate change in agriculture.
They have filed 532 applications in various patent offices for such seeds and plant genomes. Monsanto and BASF have a us $1.5 billion joint-venture for developing climate-ready genes.
“It is unacceptable that these six companies should monopolise and control all the dna sequencing that can be used to respond to any kind of stress. There are many local seeds which are drought-resistant, salinity-tolerant and resistant to water-logging. If these are patented, it will be a scary situation,” said Pat Roy Mooney, Right Livelihood Award winner and founder of the Ottawa-based ETC group that works on cultural and ecological issues.
Addressing a conference in Delhi, Mooney said concentration of such patents in the hands of a few companies was not good for world food security. “They could deny access of such seeds to some countries, the prices of these seeds would be extremely high and unaffordable to developing countries,” he added.
Director of the uk-based Institute of Science in Society, Mae-Won Ho, objected to the very concept of patenting of genes. “It is possible that one dna has many functions and several dnas have the same function. This is nature’s gift and should not be patented,” she said.
They have filed 532 applications in various patent offices for such seeds and plant genomes. Monsanto and BASF have a us $1.5 billion joint-venture for developing climate-ready genes.
“It is unacceptable that these six companies should monopolise and control all the dna sequencing that can be used to respond to any kind of stress. There are many local seeds which are drought-resistant, salinity-tolerant and resistant to water-logging. If these are patented, it will be a scary situation,” said Pat Roy Mooney, Right Livelihood Award winner and founder of the Ottawa-based ETC group that works on cultural and ecological issues.
Addressing a conference in Delhi, Mooney said concentration of such patents in the hands of a few companies was not good for world food security. “They could deny access of such seeds to some countries, the prices of these seeds would be extremely high and unaffordable to developing countries,” he added.
Director of the uk-based Institute of Science in Society, Mae-Won Ho, objected to the very concept of patenting of genes. “It is possible that one dna has many functions and several dnas have the same function. This is nature’s gift and should not be patented,” she said.
-Savvy Soumya Misra
Courtesty: Down to Earth Nov 15, 2008
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