Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Land disputes hit Indian infrastructure schemes
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Land disputes hit Indian infrastructure schemes
AFP - Sunday, December 5
Send
IM Story
Print
Land disputes hit Indian infrastructure schemes
MUMBAI (AFP) - – Protests against a proposed Indian nuclear power plant this weekend highlight a growing problem facing developers, experts say, as the country tries to upgrade or build much-needed infrastructure.
Thousands of fishermen, farmers and their families in Jaitapur in western Maharashtra state turned out in force Saturday to denounce the loss of homes and agricultural land, as well as voice fears about radiation and pollution.
The long-running protest has already seen a government compensation package rejected as "derisory" compared with the estimated 22 billion dollars that the plant will cost.
Environmentalists also oppose building the French-backed facility because of its location in the ecologically-sensitive Western Ghats mountain range and a high-risk earthquake zone, plus India's lack of an independent nuclear regulator.
"The authorities are trying to spin this as people wanting more money," Lauri Myllyvirta, an energy campaigner at Greenpeace, told AFP.
"But the people just want to have their land and have the security of that lifestyle and income. They're very concerned about the radiation risk and whether there will be a waste-reprocessing facility on the site."
Years of wrangling over land, compensation and environmental impact have become a regular feature of many projects aimed at developing modern India.
High-profile disputes include plans for a second airport on protected wetlands to service India's financial hub of Mumbai and a plan by Tata Motors to build a new manufacturing plant for the world's cheapest car, the Nano.
India's environment ministry approved the much-delayed airport project last month but Tata Motors aborted its move to West Bengal state in 2008 after weeks of violent protests by farmers angered by the forced purchase of their land.
ArcelorMittal, South Korea's POSCO and Vedanta Resources have all recently been forced to look elsewhere for large-scale steel plant and mining projects after opposition in the eastern state of Orissa.
Special economic zones -- a government initiative aimed at turning India into a manufacturing powerhouse by offering tax breaks and other incentives -- have also been hit by claims of illegal land grabbing and corrupt practices.
The editor of India Infrastructure magazine, Shubhra Puri, said such disputes were now a major problem, as ordinary Indians, with the help of campaigners, become more savvy.
"Whatever settlement was given to them earlier, they used to think this was a boon and it helped them alleviate their economic status, but today they are wiser," she said.
"They talk to other people in other areas to see if they're getting a lucrative deal... If they get together these projects will not happen. They're negotiating very, very smartly."
India desperately needs infrastructure development to keep pace with an expanding economy, exploding population and urbanisation.
A McKinsey Global Institute study in April said 1.2 trillion dollars of capital investment was required by 2030 to meet demand in Indian cities, and warned that sustained economic growth was at risk without managed policies.
Environment minister Jairam Ramesh has said that demand for electricity is now about 10 times greater than output, and the 9,900 megawatt Jaitapur plant could help cut the deficit.
He has pledged to review the compensation package for locals, but there are few signs that the issue will be resolved anytime soon.
Rahul Gandhi, touted as a future prime minister, has called for fairer land acquisition laws, amid signs that powerful business lobbies and vested interests tend to win out over most grassroots opposition.
Proposed changes to the opaque and out-of-date laws, though, are stuck in India's parliament, which is currently in a state of gridlock over corruption claims in the awarding of 2G mobile phone licences.
Jai Mavani, an infrastructure specialist at the PricewaterhouseCoopers consultancy, said strong political will was needed to push through projects.
Yet he and Puri said delays were inevitable.
"We're a democracy and the due process requires that every citizen, no matter how insignificant they may be in the scheme of things, needs to be heard," said Mavani.
"We can't just get the road and railway lines," added Puri. "We can't ignore grassroots sentiment. These problems are bound to arise."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Ancient relics will delay huge Afghan copper mine Reuters - 16 minutes ago
Israeli cable firm HOT gets ISP license, refinances Reuters - 25 minutes ago
BAY STREET-Oil plays to drive Canada 2011 energy IPO activity Reuters - 30 minutes ago
Spain counts the costs of air controller strike Reuters - 44 minutes ago
Russia's X5 retailer buys rival Kopeika Reuters - 58 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Cancun climate talks enter final stretch
Iran declares nuclear 'self-sufficiency' ahead of talks
Mbeki to mediate I.Coast 'two presidents' standoff
Ireland facing tough annual budget to secure bailout
Ex-fugitive Nadir threatens to sue British police
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
NASA finds new form of life... on Earth
WikiLeaks arrest looms as site fights to stay online
Ex-fugitive Nadir threatens to sue British police
Madrid forces end to air controllers strike
Obama on surprise Afghanistan visit, says US winning war
More Most Viewed »
NASA finds new form of life... on Earth
Pilgrims stone 'devil' as Muslims celebrate Eid
World leaders scramble for funds to save the tiger
US, S.Korea plan war games after N.Korean attack
Obama gets 12 stitches after 'elbow in the lip'
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 5 December 2010 Iran tells Gulf Arabs it is no threat to region
Madrid forces end to air controllers wildcat strike
Deadly Israeli fire rages on despite global aid
|
Deadly Israeli fire rages on despite global aid
Serbs stick with Zimonjic and Troicki for doubles
Greek police find suspected guerrilla arms cache
|
Two killed as plane makes emergency landing in Russia
Gbagbo denounces foreign 'interference' in I.Coast
Iran welcomes talks with world powers
Israel arrests two suspects in deadly fire
Netanyahu and Abbas hold rare phone chat over fires
Kenyan forces kill five Ethiopian rebels
|
Afghan president doubts credibility of US leaked cables
Iran will 'never use' force against Muslim neighbours
Sudan's south rejects bid for delay of January 9 vote
|
Iran pilgrims among 13 dead in Iraq bombings
Al Qaeda planned to kill Saudis with poisoned gifts
Polanski's 'Ghost Writer' top contender at Europe's Oscars
Disney sells Miramax to Qatar-linked group
Google to buy anti-piracy software firm Widevine
|
New Mel Gibson movie finally heads to theaters
|
Suspected Russian spammer denied bond: report
PayPal suspends WikiLeaks donations account
Russian 'spy' found in British parliament
Polls open in Egyptian run-off parliament vote
Cold snap, air strike and floods bring chaos to Europe
Spain reopens airspace after controllers' strike
|
WikiLeaks faces donations blow as it fights for survival
Egypt vote leaves near single-party parliament
Ireland facing tough annual budget to secure bailout
CrowdFlower cultivating office-free work styles
China Internet cafe explosion kills 6, injures 37: report
|
Ex-fugitive Nadir threatens to sue British police
Hosni Mubarak party to sail through boycotted Egypt vote
Deadly Israeli fire rages on despite global aid
|
Madrid forces end to air controllers strike
Spain eyes role in Costa Rica-Nicaragua border spat
US-TECH Summary
Afghan minister disputes US diplomatic cable
Polls open in Egyptian run-off parliament vote
|
Two killed as plane makes emergency landing in Russia
Thabo Mbeki to mediate Ivory Coast poll row
|
Sudan's south rejects bid for delay of January 9 vote
Russian airliner makes emergency landing, 2 dead
|
WikiLeaks boost for Singaporeans
South Korea appoints new defence minister
Outpouring of love as Thais celebrate King's 83rd birthday
Cambodian refugee goes home as US Navy commander
The Sultan and I have no qualms: Indonesian President
Responders head to disabled ship in Bering Sea
Nepal's gentle giants do battle on the polo field
Indonesia creates team to study WikiLeaks cables
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
S.Korea lawmakers call US trade deal 'humiliating'
Aretha Franklin "doing very well" after surgery
Australia Outback could soon get web via TV aerial
Polanski's 'Ghost Writer' steals the show at Europe's Oscars
Pietersen swells England's Ashes lead with double hundred
India's Tata plans hiring spree in Detroit
Luanda's Triennial boosts Angola's nascent art scene
US, key Asian allies to forge strategy on N.Korea
New Mel Gibson movie finally heads to theaters
China's skyscraper boom buoys global industry
Filipino justice head wants to arm lawyers, judges
S.Korea parliament closer to sukuk issues approval
Bangladesh's Grameen Bank denies wrongdoing
Sarkozy pushes defense, nuke cooperation in India
Aretha Franklin doing very well after surgery
|
Human error 'to blame for Russian plane crash'
At least two killed in Afghan suicide blast
Russian spy uncovered in British parliament
|
Hunt for WikiLeaks founder 'politically motivated'
Iran declares nuclear 'self-sufficiency' ahead of talks
Defiant Iran reports nuclear advance before talks
|
Cancun climate talks enter final stretch
Defiant Iran reports nuclear advance before talks
Mbeki to mediate I.Coast 'two presidents' standoff
Suicide attack kills 4 near NATO base in Afghanistan
|
Egyptians vote in run-off after opposition quits
North Korea says South's drills provocative
|
Iran to process its own raw uranium yellowcake
Hong Kong protesters demand China free Nobel winner Liu
|
Bomb blast hits eastern Afghan army base, kills 2
Saudi nabbed 2,000 at Yemen border per day: cable
|
Egyptians vote in run-off after opposition quits
|
Sarkozy and wife hit tourist trail in India
China Internet cafe blast kills 6 and injures 38
Seven killed in China cybercafe blast
Taiwan warned against jailing ex-leader's wife
Tow vessel reaches struggling ship in Bering Sea
Thai king leaves hospital for 83rd birthday
US Navy commander returns to Cambodian roots
Malaysian police fire tear gas on opposition protest
Obama touts S.Korea trade deal, looks for more
WRAPUP 2-Obama touts S.Korea trade deal, looks for more
Malaysia PM launches Anwar attack ahead of polls
Suntory to tie up with SKorea's OB: report
Land disputes hit Indian infrastructure schemes
Vietnam's 'tiger' economy limping: investors
South Korean trade minister defends deal with US
Brazil's Vale says HK shares to start trading
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights