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Asia’s Tainted Literary Fest

Richard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:57:07 +0000

The DSC Jaipur Literature Festival opened in India on 20 January 2012, and concludes today. Billed as “the largest literary festival in the Asia-Pacific” it had already provoked heated debate before it got underway – the Festival is sponsored by two of the world’s most heavily criticised mining/mineral companies, Rio Tinto and Tata.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11452&l=1.

Orissa High Court dashes Vedanta hopes to expand refinery

Richard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:51:32 +0000

Vedanta Aluminium Ltd tried to get the High Court in the Indian State of Orissa to overturn its decision to stop expansion of the company’s Lanjigarh bauxite refinery. It failed.

See http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-19/bhubaneswar/30642318_1_review-petition-vedanta-aluminum-alumina-refinery.…
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Vedanta set to grab further Indian resources – twice over

Richard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:50:11 +0000

Vedanta’s contract with Scottish firm, Cairn Energy, to take a controlling stake in India’s most promising new oil field, still isn’t a “done deal”. But the acquisition has now moved one step closer to completion with backing from the Oil ministry – despite failures to address the Home Affairs ministry’s misgivings about Vedanta’s highly dubious human rights, environmental and governance record. Just as this particular “coup” looks like being ratified by the central government, the company’s principal subsidiary, Sterlite Industries, is proposing to purchase what it doesn’t yet own of BALCO. BALCO is Vedanta’s principal integrated aluminium subsidiary, notorious for its appalling record in safeguarding workers’ health and safety.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11428&l=1.

ICVL ties up with London-based company Anglo American for scouting coal assets

Richard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:46:38 +0000

International Coal Ventures, a consortium of Indian state-run entities created to acquire coal assets abroad, has formed a strategic tie-up with Anglo American, a global leader in mining, for scouting for coking coal properties globally.

See http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-01-17/news/30635866_1_icvl-coking-coal-international-coal-ventures.

Rio Tinto makes diamond foray in India

Richard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:25:12 +0000

According to Daily News and Analysis, Rio Tinto has received approvals-in-principle from the Ministry of Mines to begin diamond mining operations in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Rio Tinto’s maiden venture in India — in the form of a diamond mine — will come up in the Bunder region of the state where the company had established a diamond prospect way back in 2004.

See http://www.mining.com/2012/01/06/rio-tinto-makes-diamond-foray-in-india/.

Indian villagers march against POSCO oppression

Richard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:20:12 +0000

Kalinganagar massacre anniversary also commemorated

As 2012 opened, 2000 villagers in the POSCO concession area of Orissa protested against further repression against leaders of the local movement and pledged to halt the project. Elsewhere in Orissa, more than 2,000 tribal people organised a rally marking the sixth anniversary of the Kalinganagar massacre, in which 14 tribals, including three women, were killed.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11407&l=1.

British-based investors in South Korean company POSCO include Barclays, Alliance Bernstein/Alliance Bernstein Global Wealth Management, Foreign and Colonial Investment Trust PLC, and Henderson Far East Income Limited: see http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&search=Posco&go=Go.

India: Vicious attack against POSCO opponents triggers urgent demands

Richard — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:30:28 +0000

On 14 December a private force of 500 men descended on a non-violent demonstration against the POSCO project in India’s state of Orissa. Several protestors were injured and one man (apparently from the “goon squad”) died.

The attack was widely condemned by left wing politicians in Orissa, but according to PPSS – the peoples’ organisation formed by local villagers – further action is about to be taken by the state government against the movement’s leadership. Following an investigation on 22 December, a group of Indian civil society organisations has called for an immediate judicial enquiry into the attacks of 14th December 2011.

It is also demanding the withdrawal of all newly-filed and previous false cases against the villagers and PPSS activists. See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11400.

Indian officials accused of conniving with Vedanta to avoid water penalties

Richard — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:27:43 +0000

It’s nothing new for UK-listed Vedanta Resources to be accused (or found guilty) of committing illegal acts – something that’s happened on many occasions since the Indian-focused company listed on the London Stock Exchange seven years ago this month.

Now, a civil society organization (Odisha Water Initiatives – OWI) which pledges to protect water supplies for the people of Orissa (Odisha), provided evidence of numerous instances where the company illegally extracted water from rivers and reservoirs.

But, even when fined for these violations, the company failed to pay the penalties – now amounting to some US$2 million.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11395.

‘Why waive Rs 9 crore penalty on Vedanta?’

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:48:19 +0000

The move by the Orissa State Government in India to waive Rs 9 crore penalty on Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) for withdrawal of water from Bheden river and Hirakud reservoir came in for sharp criticism from the Opposition in the Assembly on Saturday. Raising the issue during zero hour, Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh said when farmers are not getting water for cultivation, the Government is protecting the interests of the big industries by allowing them to draw water from Hirakud reservoir.

See http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/why-waive-rs-9-crore-penalty-on-vedanta/344648.html.

See also Water tax waiver issue rocks Assembly at http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/28643-water-tax-waiver-issue-rocks-assembly.html and Water Lootera Vedanta gets undue favour from Water Bureaucracy at http://climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/2011/12/water-lootera-vedanta-gets-undue-favour.html.

(One crore = ten million. Nine crore rupees is equivalent to over £1,080,000 sterling.)

India: POSCO opponents suffer vicious armed attack

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:46:48 +0000

Recently, Indian villagers began resisting construction of a coastal road for the massive POSCO project, anticipating that pro-company “goons” might soon try breaking down their nonviolent resistance. On 14 December, the villagers’ worst fears seem confirmed when a force of some 500 men allegedly attacked the protestors “using bombs and weapons” and leaving several people injured.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11375&l=1.

Rio Tinto’s Indian diamond mine may not be – ever

Richard — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:28:27 +0000

The assassination of environmental and human rights’ activist, Shehla Masood, brought into sharp focus plans by Rio Tinto to open India’s first new commercial diamond mine in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Recently, Australian Broadcasting Company sent a reporter to the prospective site, to investigate the “mood” of local people about the project and to hear the company defend its current and future operations. But, at the last moment, Rio Tinto refused to be officially interviewed on camera.

ABC also obtained a copy of a writ petition to India’s High Court, accusing the UK mega-miner of having already violated environmental regulations in its lease area. While some villagers in the area approved the company’s proposals, others were firmly opposed, and pledged to halt the project.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11346

Vedanta seeks coal mines overseas, to participate in India auction

Richard — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:20:38 +0000

With India set to auction off as many as 58 coal blocks to the highest bidder, Vedanta has thrown its hat in the ring.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page38?oid=141185&sn=Detail&pid=92730.

More “accidents” at Vedanta’s Indian copper smelter

Richard — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:31:52 +0000

It should have been shut down nearly a year ago. But, despite an order by the Madras High Court, UK-listed Vedanta Resources has been allowed to continue operating its highly-polluting Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) copper smelter in Tamil Nadu.

On 17 August 2011, according to information coming from within the plant, a 45-minute poisonous gas leak partially-suffocated some of its workforce.

Now – less than four months later (14 November 2011) - a contract worker has died, and another was seriously injured, after being sucked into a duct that should itself have been closed down.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11313.

Australia’s PM looking to overturn ban on India uranium sales

Richard — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:21:35 +0000

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s ruling Labor party will debate lifting the ban on the sales of uranium to India at its conference next month, a decision unlikely to be welcomed by the Greens.

Uranium producers in Australia include BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page504?oid=139608&sn=Detail&pid=92730.

India: Is POSCO’s road to destruction about to be built?

Richard — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:15:37 +0000

The “Indian summer” which saw a lull in attempts by Orissa’s government to advance the notorious POSCO project, may be just about to end. There are now fears that company “security”, backed by police, will at any time attempt to construct a company road, to facilitate possession of community lands. Local human rights organisation, POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, has issued an urgent appeal for protests to be directed at India’s central administration. The Asian Human Rights Commission has also asked the government to halt this planned move, “until informed consent from the people directly affected by such activities [is] obtained”.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11286.