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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Disasters highlight trade-offs for construction
Tuesday's landslides and floods in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi region, in the heart of the Bhagirathi Ecosensitive Zone (BESZ) have yet again highlighted the trade-offs involved in the construction of the final stretch of the Char Dham road. Disasters highlight trade-offs for construction The forest clearance for the stretch between Tekhla and Badethi has been pending since December last year. Constructing this stretch will involve the felling of 530 trees, according to documents available on the union environment ministry's Parivesh website. The annexures to the Zonal Master Plan of BESZ, available on the ministry's website add that a key concern is the need to protect the forests and green cover in the BESZ. 'It requires minimal cutting of trees in the BESZ for road construction and avoiding multiple roads connecting a village to the state or national highways. This caution was supported by the Uttarakhand chief secretary in the December 9, 2017 meeting and reiterated in the May 2, 2018 meeting. In the January 9, 2018 committee (NGT appointed) meeting, Chandi Prasad Bhatt (Chipko leader) referred to the immense damage potential of the Uttarkashi-Gangotri National Highway widening project currently underway. The plan for widening this stretch will fell 12,995 trees in the BESZ. Almost 6,000 deodar trees are to be felled between Jhala and Gangotri, Bhatt had pointed out that in the latter stretch,' the annexures state adding that the count of trees to be felled is sourced from a submission on record by union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH). Trees have already been marked on the stretch for felling according to local residents. 'Authorities are preparing to fell trees. They have been marked. Trees are imperative to bind the mountains in this area and if these are cut then the avalanche from the hanging glaciers, which are expected in these areas owing to climate change, will not be arrested and the debris will slide down burying everything and everyone on its path,' said Mallika Bhanot, environmentalist and member of Ganga Ahvaan, a civil society collective. HT reported on August 29 last year that residents of Uttarkashi have flagged concerns with the Border Roads Organisation's forest clearance application submitted to the Union Environment Ministry, for the widening of the Char Dham road through the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone. Residents are particularly concerned that conditions recommended by the Supreme Court appointed high powered committee on the Char Dham project which were referred to in SC's order dated December 14, 2021 in respect of the stretch of around 100 km connecting Uttarkashi to Gangotri and passing through the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone, have been ignored. The SC order referred to the Ravi Chopra headed high powered committee's recommendations: that BRO must obtain all requisite clearances from the environment ministry; that road widening should be taken up only after detailed environment impact assessment and application of mitigation measures; that the felling of Deodar trees should be avoided; and that vulnerability evaluations and terrain assessments should be conducted . The high powered committee on char dham project headed by Ravi Chopra also warned against construction of dams and other large infrastructure above the main central thrust or the paraglacial zone. 'The Tekhla to Badethi stretch is on the left bank of the river. It is a virgin forest, once you cut the trees, the slope gets exposed to the elements. In the event of heavy intense rainfall, the soil begins to get washed down by the rainwater. Now, given that we are in a period of climate change where temperatures in summer are rising, then the soil gets dry and the soil particles are not tightly bound to each other,' said Ravi Chopra, former chairman of an expert panel set up by the Supreme Court to oversee the widening of roads under the Char Dham Pariyojana in Uttarakhand. 'Therefore, when the rain comes, then it is easier for the rain to wash away the soil. Once the soil gets washed off, then rainwater begins to enter fissures, fractures, cracks in underlying this area, winters can be very cold. Due to the anomalous expansion of water, it can form ice and become large and expand, thereby further cracking the fissures. As a continuous process, it begins to weaken the underlying rock and that can lead to slope failures,' he added. 'The entire region from Uttarkashi to Gangotri is ecologically and geologically sensitive. Its slopes are weak in several locations. The best example is of Bhatwari, which is about 40 km upstream from Uttarkashi. Besides having a weak slope, the river is continuously eroding the toe of the slopes. The Bhatwari road has collapsed today and traffic is stuck at either side, so these kinds of events will become more frequent because the slopes in that region are very steep. Now if you cut these slopes, the greater the width, the greater the weakening of the slope. All this is going to happen at a time when we are going to get increasing rainfall. So that will be the second threat. The toes are getting weaker and are vulnerable to slope failure,' he said about BESZ in general. According to the master plan of BESZ, 238 glaciers are in the Bhagirathi basin of which many may be receding. In December 2012, the environment ministry notified 4179.59 sq. km covering the entire watershed of about 100 km from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi as the Bhagirathi Eco Sensitive Zone (BESZ). Almost 59% of the total BESZ area is glacier or snow covered according to the zonal master plan. 'The Bhagirathi Eco- sensitive region is of immense ecological & environmental significance and being the source of River Ganga and its tributaries, it harbors the indigenous and endemic flora & fauna as well as the important migratory species,' the BESZ master plan states. The purpose of having a Zonal Master Plan is to regulate the developmental activities in the region in such a way that it ensures: 1. environmental and ecological protection of the entire endangered area, falling in the catchment of river Bhagirathi from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi town and holistic development of the area ensuring livelihood security of the people living in the area including protection of their traditional rights and privileges. According to the master plan, widening of existing roads/construction of new roads in the BESZ can be taken up only after detailed environment impact assessment and appropriate mitigation measures. The last 150 km-long stretch of Char Dham road, which will pass through the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone, will have to adhere to a minimum width of 10m, Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari said in Parliament last year. Considering the strategic nature of the stretch, since it connects with the India-China border, the road needs to be wide enough to move defence equipment, the minister added. The apex court cleared the project on the same grounds -- national security -- but Tuesday's events show that both the court and the ministries concerned may have ignored environmental realities.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Adani-Ambuja in Spotlight over Chandrapur Land Grab
Published : Aug 06, 2025 18:52 IST - 12 MINS READ Land has always been at a premium in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district because of its wealth in natural resources and minerals, be it coal, iron ore, or limestone, which explains the presence of many big corporations in this region. Now, a new game of land grab is at play in the district, especially in Korpana tehsil, known for its limestone deposits and the cement industries that have mushroomed here over the past 30 years. Korpana tehsil lies at the border of Maharashtra and Telangana. Since 2001, Ambuja Cements (formerly Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd) has had an integrated cement plant in Korpana's Gadchandur city. Gadchandur, also known as 'cement city', is home to several large cement factories belonging to companies such as Ambuja Cements, Maratha Cement Works, Ultratech Cement, and Dalmia Cement, and they source limestone from the nearby villages. For one such project, namely the Nandgaon-Ekodi limestone mine, Ambuja Cements applied for environmental clearance (EC) for limestone mining on a land parcel of 369.52 hectares spread across four villages: Nandgaon, Ekodi, Kawthala, and Bhoyegaon. A public hearing was held as part of the EC process on January 29, 2021, details of which are available on the government's Parivesh portal. In the public hearing, several farmers, including Kawthala's then sarpanch Naresh Satpute, also affected by the project, put forth some demands. They wanted the land deals to be completed by May 31, 2021; one member of each 7/12 extract (a revenue document that gives details of land ownership) to be given a job in the company; and farmers to get Rs.50 lakh per acre and compensation of Rs.30 lakh each if they were not given jobs. (These are recorded in the minutes of the public hearing.) Also Read | Karnataka farmers refuse to give up fertile land for Aerospace Park As per the minutes, Ambuja Cements replied: 'After receipt of EC, land acquisition process will be carried out,' that indicating that the farmers' demands would be considered after acquisition. The company also said that there would not be 'any mediator involved during the process of land acquisition' and that the agreements would be 'between the project proponent & landowner only'. Ambuja Cements was granted the EC in August 2022. In September 2022, the Adani Group acquired Ambuja Cements and its subsidiary ACC Ltd for $10.5 billion (roughly Rs.81,000 crore) in what the pink press called the group's largest ever acquisition and India's largest ever M&A (merger and acquisition) deal in the infrastructure and materials space. However, the company did not initiate work on the limestone project. Then, in the monsoon months of 2024, a group of people descended on the four villages. Naresh Satpute said: 'Nitin Zade from Ambuja Cements said the process of buying land would start soon. We knew Nitin because he is from a nearby village and had been working at Ambuja Cements' Gadchandur plant for many years.' The farmers were initially hesitant to sell because the company's offer price was too low. 'They were offering us Rs.25 lakh per acre. We were not ready to sell,' said Satpute. Land sales begin Then, he added, in late 2024 Sudhir Mungantiwar, the BJP MLA from Ballarpur in Chandrapur district and a former Cabinet Minister, met them in Chandrapur. 'There, the company people offered Rs.35 lakh per acre. Mungantiwar told us farmers that we should now sell the land to the company or MIDC [Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation] would come in and we won't get even this amount.' At this point, the farmers began to sell their land at Rs.35 lakh per acre to the 'company people'. However, when they went to the registrar's office in Korpana Block Office, they found that the buyer was not Ambuja Cements but a different company. Satpute said: 'However, we still signed the papers because Rs.35 lakh per acre was a large amount. Also, once all the farmers began to accept the cheques, who will oppose?' (The EC mentions Rs.72 lakh per hectare as the compensation amount.) Satpute's family sold 12 acres. The registration process for 10 acres has been completed and the remaining two acres are in the process of being sold at the time of filing this report. New buyers Soon, the farmers realised that each of them was selling to a different buyer. Bebitai Madan Satpute, Naresh Satpute's mother, sold her land to Victorlane Projects Pvt. Ltd, while a farmer named Nandkishor Thakre, also of Kawthala village, sold his land to Vihay Realtors Pvt. Ltd. In total, 13 such companies bought the land where Ambuja Cements was supposed to start a limestone mine. Enquiries by Frontline revealed that all 13 companies are registered at the same address: 103 and 104 Ramsukh House, Thube Park, Shivajinagar, Pune. This address also appears on the sale deeds registered in the Korpana registrar office. One of the names figuring in the sale deeds is that of Tushar Satywan Gajbhiye. When contacted on June 17, Gajbhiye claimed that all the paperwork was legal and promised to call back with more responses but did not. Nitin Shamsundar Zade, who interacted with the farmers on the land sale, was the land acquisition officer in Ambuja Cements' Gadchandur division for many years and is a familiar figure in the area. Zade was made an additional director in all 13 companies on a single day: February 27, 2025. When contacted by Frontline, Zade said he could not talk without permission from his bosses. Asked if he was still working at Ambuja Cements, he did not give a straight answer. Further enquiries revealed that 7 of the directors in these 13 companies are current or former employees of Ambuja Cements, ACC, or linked companies. All 13 companies are part of the Rucha Group of companies, according to Shailendra Rathi, the group's land acquisition officer. The group's beneficial owner (with 95 per cent shares) is Raj Rajeshwar Projects LLP, a company incorporated in May 2022 and owned by Prashant Nilawar, who was implicated in the Rs.1,000 crore Buldana cooperative society scam of 2021. The Buldana scam involved a money laundering operation to conceal alleged proceeds from corruption within Maharashtra's Public Works Department. Rucha group Speaking to Frontline, Rathi said: 'We are in the land banking business. We buy land at various locations. Sometimes we develop them. So, in these four villages too, we have bought land.' Asked why the group was buying the land, he said: 'There is no concrete proposal right now. We are just buying it.' On whether the group companies were buying the land for Ambuja Cements, Rathi said: 'We have nothing to do with Ambuja Cements. We are buying the land for ourselves.' Regarding the environmental clearance for limestone mining, he said: 'We don't know the history. There could be some clearance given, but that was long ago, in 2021 [the EC was actually given in August 2022]. We have been buying land over the last few months.' Asked if the group would sell the land to Ambuja Cements, Rathi said: 'The company has not thought about it.' On whether the Rucha Group had asked Sudhir Mungantiwar to contact the farmers, Rathi said: 'We have no idea whether Mungantiwarji met the farmers or not. We have nothing to do with him, and we are not in touch with him.' Asked if it could be a breach of law were Rucha Group to sell the land to Ambuja Cements in future, Rathi said: 'No such question arises; we have not thought about selling as of now.' Rathi admitted that Gajbhiye was an employee of his company. On Nitin Zade, he said: 'He is our local man. We made him director for extending help locally.' When asked if Zade was also an employee of Ambuja Cements, Rathi said: 'I am not aware of that. It is possible he could be working for them. We don't have an issue with where Zade works locally.' Too many red flags It is quite a coincidence that Zade was the land acquisition officer for Ambuja Cements and that Rathi's companies made him a director for acquiring the same land for which Ambuja Cements had acquired an EC. Rathi said: 'We were not aware of Zade's association with Ambuja.' Since the land parcels fall in Korpana tehsil and are part of the proposed mining site, Frontline reached out to Pallavi Akhare, the tehsildar of Korpana. She said: 'I have no idea about the land being sold. I have asked my colleagues to find out what is happening.' Both the tehsildar and other local administration officials claimed to be ignorant of the enormous land deals taking place in their jurisdiction. Why did ACC pay Rs.100 cr more to acquire Rucha Group? Strangely, ACC paid Rs.298.61 crore to acquire the Rucha Group companies that had already bought the land parcels. paying almost Rs.100 crore more than it would have had it acquired the land directly from the farmers. When contacted, Sudhir Mungantiwar said: 'I have neither asked nor forced anyone to sell the land. A few local BJP workers came to me and told me that the company is buying only 300 acres. The other [tracts of] land close to the proposed project land would also be affected. These farmers won't be able to do agricultural work there. So, these workers were demanding that the company buy all the land there. I told the District Collector that it is a genuine issue, and to ensure that all farmers concerned get proper compensation, and the company buys all the land concerned. My relation to this case ends here.' As for companies other than Ambuja Cements buying the land, Mungantiwar said: 'I am not aware who bought the land. I only know the farmers are happy that they got good compensation.' Legal angle Speaking to Frontline, Lara Jesani, a well-known advocate of the Bombay High Court, said: 'The EC specifies the compensation payable by Ambuja Cements to the farmers for their land being taken over for the project. Ambuja Cements alone is the project proponent in the EC and the terms and conditions of the EC bind the company.' Regarding the 13 other companies buying the land, she said: 'Ambuja Cements ought to be paying compensation to the farmers for the project land as per the EC. If it is found that companies purportedly related to Ambuja Cements in some ways have bought the land, it must be investigated. The authorities have to investigate if the terms of transfer and the compensation payable to the farmers were followed in these sales.' Jesani added that the authorities need to check whether the EC's terms have been complied with. The EIA Notification, 2006, states that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) study must necessarily include social impact assessment and rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) issues. They include a plan for resettlement, compensation to affected people, alternative livelihood concerns/employment for affected people, and so on. Ambuja Cements' promises In the EC, Ambuja Cements agreed to pay compensation in three parts: 40 per cent lump sum, 40 per cent in the form of fixed deposits, and 20 per cent in the form of annuities (such as LIC policies). It also agreed, inter alia, to identify alternative land for farming, organise vocational and skills training, and make a one-time (livelihood) payment of Rs.5 lakh per project-affected family. The entitlement matrix was derived on the basis of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, known as the LARR Act. It includes extra compensation for vulnerable families and consideration for project employment. Also, if additional impacts are identified during implementation, the entitlement matrix is updated. Since the Rucha Group companies purchased the project land instead of the project proponent, none of these R&R conditions have been met. Official response In response to Frontline's questions, Ambuja Cements replied with a statement that said: 'The [land] acquisition was facilitated through multiple special purpose vehicles, which are wholly owned subsidiaries of Ambuja Cements.' The Rucha Group companies bought the land in 2024. But, as per Ambuja Cements' annual reports and stock market filings, the companies became subsidiaries via a share purchase agreement only in February 2025. Also Read | Whose future? Ambuja Cements also said in its statement that the 'method of acquisition, whether direct or through subsidiaries, does not alter the legal ownership or the intended use of the land'. But earlier, at the public hearing, the company had promised that there would be no mediator and that the purchase agreements would be between project proponent and landowner only. In its statement, Ambuja Cements further said: 'Any questions raised around alleged job assurances stem from unilateral and informal references noted by a few landowners in their voluntary no objection certificates during the initial phase of the project. These references were not part of any contractual agreement with Ambuja Cements, nor were they recognised by regulatory authorities as a valid basis for granting Environmental Clearance (EC).' EC and R&R The EC was issued after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change accepted the conditions of the R&R plan, which includes a one-time payment per project-affected family, skills training, and other specifics. The R&R plan and the commitments made by Ambuja Cements are mentioned in the EIA report, based on which the public hearing took place. The report is in the public domain. One specific condition was: 'Action taken report of R&R plan shall be submitted annually. As discussed during the meeting, the benefit to project-affected persons as a percentage of the sale price shall be submitted to the Ministry.' In its statement, Ambuja Cements also said: 'The entire land acquisition was completed within six months—a clear indication of mutual interest, trust, and the fulfilment of expectations on both sides. Farmers received compensation rates significantly above prevailing government guideline values.' Strangely, as per its annual report, ACC paid Rs.298.61 crore to acquire the Rucha Group companies that had already bought the land parcels. In other words, it paid almost Rs.100 crore more than it would have had it acquired the land directly from the farmers. (The budget as per the EC was Rs.201 crore.) The Ambuja Cements statement also noted: 'We continue to receive fresh requests from neighbouring landowners who wish to sell their land to Ambuja Cements—a strong testament to our fairness, transparent dealings, and the trust we have built on the ground.' Chandrapur's farmers are unhappy. Ambuja Cements did not buy the land directly from them despite its assurances in the public hearing, and their demand for one job per 7/12 extract, and the R&R guarantees specified in the EC, have not been met so far. Naresh Satpute said: 'We are being cheated. But what can we do?' Anand Mangnale is an independent journalist.
The Hindu
26-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
For five tribal settlements in Munnar, proper road is a distant dream
In a stark reminder of the brutal realities faced by indigenous communities, L. Gandhi Ammal, a tribal woman from the remote Valsapettykudy tribal settlement in Anamudi Shola National Park under the Munnar Wildlife Division, writhed in pain for hours with no ambulance in sight — because there is no proper road. Injured on the way to the MGNREGS work, she was finally carried to the nearest hospital in Marayur on a bamboo stretcher by over 50 fellow tribespeople, trudging six kilometres through treacherous terrain. This ordeal unfolds as monsoon rains leave nearly 330 Muthuvan tribal families in five settlements cut off from basic services, trapped in isolation by the government's failure to build a proper road. According to Idukki block panchayat member C. Rajendran, there is a motorable road from Vattavada to Chilanthiyar and from Ollavayalkudy to Marayur. Between Chilanthiyar and Ollavayalkudy, which is a 13-km stretch, there are tribal settlements such as Valsapettykudy, Moolavallikudy, Vayaltharakudy, Swamiyaralakudy, and Koodallarkudy which are struggling for want of a proper road. One has to travel 103 kilometres to reach these settlements through the Munnar-Marayur route. Former Vattavada grama panchayat president R. Ramaraj alleged that officials from the Munnar wildlife division were obstructing the road construction intended for tribal settlements. 'People's representatives and local people tried to build a motorable road on the 13-kilometre stretch, but the Forest department opposed it. The five tribal settlements were isolated in the heavy rainfall. If the tribespeople need to visit other settlements, they must either walk several kilometres or travel over 100 kilometres via the Munnar route,' according to Mr. Ramaraj. Sources said the government had allotted ₹18.5 crore for the construction of a road connecting Chilanthiayar-Ollavayal through Valsapettykudy. 'However, the Forest department mandated that permission be obtained through the Parivesh portal for the road's construction. The funds were then redirected to another project,' they said. Mr. Rajendran said that due to the absence of a proper road, children in the five settlements had to be shifted to hostels at the age of five to attend school. 'If we construct a proper road, the children can live with families and reach the school through the government-arranged Vidyavahini project,' he said. Forest dept. version Meanwhile, Munnar Wildlife Warden K.V. Harikrishnan said the construction of a proper road connecting to the settlements would require 3.5 hectares of forestland. 'The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) can provide one hectare of land for development activities. If more land is needed, the user agency of the project should submit an application to MoEF through the Parivesh portal for permission. The Forest department will not oppose the road construction,' said Mr. Harikrishnan.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Time of India
Citing deadline, tourism department pushes Roerich eco-tourism plan in Karnataka
Bengaluru: Citing the city's lack of nature-based recreational spaces and a looming central funding deadline, the tourism department has made a strong pitch to implement a Rs 99.2-crore eco-tourism and cultural hub at Roerich and Devika Rani estate, located off Kanakapura Road and bordering Bannerughatta forest range. At a high-level review meeting chaired by forest minister Eshwar Khandre Thursday, a day before the matter came up at the high court, tourism officials stressed that if the project isn't executed by March 2026, the state stands to lose Rs 65 crore in central funds earmarked for the initiative. The govt has granted its in-principle approval for the project, which, if implemented, will see a mix of amenities, including cultural centres, walking trails, eco-lodges, and public infrastructure. Officials argued Bengaluru, despite its size and population, lacks a large-scale green recreational zone anchored in ecological and cultural heritage. The Roerich estate, they said, could fill that gap. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Tourism officials also claimed the project doesn't require separate forest clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, and assured the minister that all construction and development would be compliant with the Forest and Wildlife Acts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo "We've planned eco-sensitive designs and intend to follow stringent mitigation measures. With the estate's legacy and landscape, this could become a model site for sustainable cultural tourism," a senior official said. However, forest department officials at the same meeting raised red flags over the ecological sensitivity of the area. The 468-acre estate lies within an elephant corridor that connects Bannerughatta and Savanadurga forest ranges. Karnataka's only elephant overpass, designed to help these animals migrate across human-dominated landscapes, is located nearby. Forest officials shared camera trap images showing regular movement of elephants, leopards and other scheduled mammals in the region. "The estate is part of a fragile corridor. Construction here will fragment wildlife movement, especially of large mammals," a forest official present at the meeting said. However, senior forest officials did not formally object to the tourism department's plan during the review meeting, according to multiple sources. In fact, earlier on Tuesday, the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) had recommended the project to the Union environment ministry. "There are some technical issues encountered in the Parivesh portal while uploading the working and management plans. Hence, the management plan of the tourism department is submitted with a request to forward it to the MoEF&CC regional office for further approval," the PCCF letter read. Tourism officials at the meeting are said to have acknowledged the presence of wildlife, but maintained that their design includes mitigation measures and does not violate forest laws.
News18
17-07-2025
- Business
- News18
UP govt deploys advanced technologies to curb illegal mining
Lucknow, Jul 17 (PTI) To curb illegal mining and transportation, the Uttar Pradesh government is deploying advanced technologies under the Integrated Mining Surveillance System (IMSS), a release said on Thursday. Mining activities are already being monitored through drones, geo-fencing, RFID tags, and AI-powered check gates. Now, the state is set to introduce 'Weigh-In-Motion' (WIM) technology to accurately track vehicle overloading. According to the official release, the Department of Geology and Mining has reinforced surveillance with multiple tech-driven interventions, including geo-fencing of mining zones, camera-equipped weighbridges, and RFID tagging of transport vehicles. Additionally, 57 unmanned IoT and AI-based check gates have been installed across 25 districts, all integrated with the directorate's command centre. The department has also sought the cooperation of the Transport Commissioner to facilitate the installation of WIM systems to strengthen control over illegal mining and transportation. Moreover, to enhance digital transparency in mining services, the state government has initiated the integration of its portal with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's 'Parivesh' portal. This will streamline the monitoring of environmental clearance certificates and accelerate enforcement actions in mining regions, the statement added. PTI CDN MR First Published: July 17, 2025, 21:45 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.
