India’s National Advisory Council (NAC) has made a set of recommendations over implementation of the Forest Rights Act (2006) and a new government Land Acquisition Act. Its report cuts to the heart of the implementation of the right to Free Prior Informed Consent – as opposed to mere “consultation” – for many of the world’s largest Indigenous population in a single country. The NAC urges that a central agency take over land acquisition for all needs including those of private industry. But, potentially more important, is its recommendation that consent must be obtained from a majority (70%) within the affected gram sabhas [village government areas] before any transfer occurs.
This would affect the activities of, among others, London-listed Vedanta and the South Korean steel giant POSCO, whose UK investors include Barclays, Alliance Bernstein/Alliance Bernstein Global Wealth Management, Foreign and Colonial Investment Trust PLC, and Henderson Far East Income Limited.
See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=10941.