Somewhere in Agra....

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise waves in front of the Taj Mahal, Agra, on Saturday. Cruise is on his maiden visit to India to promote: MI 4 Ghost Protocol

Dow Chemicals & the SC

US-based multinational Dow Chemicals has declined to share its wholly owned subsidiary Union Carbide Corporation’s alleged past residuary liability towards compensating 1984 Bhopal tragedy victims. It refused to submit to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India, which is dealing with the Centre’s plea for an additional Rs 7,844 crore to the victims. The UCC had also taken a stand similar to Dow Chemicals in not submitting to the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction.

Somewhere in Chennai....

Folk artistes joined DMK party cadres in welcoming Kanimozhi home , on her arrival at the Chennai airport after being granted bail.

The PM's Manipur trip

Manmohan Singh on Saturday pledged to protect Manipur’s territorial integrity as a sullen Imphal welcomed him and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi with empty roads and closed markets. The Manipur capital wore a deserted look because of opposition to their visit by both mainstream and underground groups. Three civil society groups asked people to boycott the visit to protest against the Centre’s failure to end the recent 121 day blockade of the national highways by Kukis and Nagas Seven banned outfits called a 14-hour bandh over their demand for a sovereign Manipur. Singh said, “The Centre extended all possible support to the state government during the crisis (blockade) and made essential commodities available to the people. The blockades were painful for the people and harmful to its economy.” Singh allayed fears about the state losing its territorial unity. He said the Centre had made no such proposal and was committed to protecting Manipur’s integrity.

Maharashtra plans land survey

Following the dispute over the allotment of land to the Adarsh society, which involved leading politicians, military officials and bureaucrats, the Congress-NCP government has drafted a Rs 1,330-crore plan to resurvey all the plots across Maharashtra and their ownership over the next five years. “It will be the biggest ever exercise in the history of the department. It will take at least five years to complete the study. Once the survey is over, we will create a record of the ownership of each and every piece of land in the state,” a senior revenue department official said. “We will involve the Centre, the surveyor general of India and the department of space science and technology in the exercise.” The officials have decided upon the exercise after the government, during several alleged land scam disputes, was left red-faced as it failed to produce any specific record showing their ownership, which was the bone of contention for the cases. In fact, the last land survey conducted was way back in 1930. “The official records show that the first survey was held between 1830 and 1870, followed by another one between 1880 and 1930. After that, nothing has been done. In several cases, land records are not available and the government is left with no option but to depend on documents produced by a third party,” the revenue department official said. Explaining how they have planned out the exercise, he said that it had been proposed to set up a ground point central network (GPCN). Technocrats will use differential global positioning system (GPS) or aerial photography or a high-resolution satellite imagery system to determine the exact area of a plot. “We will have to set up a state-wide GPC network and also take the help of panchayat raj organizations and civic bodies,” he added. When asked about the high cost estimated for the project, the official said as several agencies would be part of the survey, which would involve physical verification of land records, it has been estimated that Rs 24,000 will be required for work on 1 sq-km area. “The total area to be studied is 3.07 lakh sq km spread over 35 districts and 44,000 villages. Once the survey is completed and ownership of land established, it will also help us reduce the crimes triggered by land disputes,” the official added. In the past, several senior government officials had recommended that a land-ownership survey should be conducted, but the advice has always fallen on deaf ears. However, several neighbouring states, including Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, have not only completed the exercise long ago, but have also computerized the records and update them regularly.

What a shame !

Bowing to pressure from allies and wary of a defeat in Parliament, the government on Saturday agreed not to operationalize the controversial Cabinet decision to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail sector. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee gave a commitment to West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool boss Mamata Banerjee not to go ahead with the decision until a consensus emerged on the issue. “Pranabd a sought our opinion on the issue and we told him that the Trinamool Congress remains firm (on its opposition to letting in foreign retail giants). He informed me that the Cabinet decision on FDI entry in retail will be suspended until and unless a consensus is evolved,” Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata. “If this is so, the issue is settled,” she added. “The matter is crystal clear and you may ask Pranab Mukherjee,” the CM said.

Somewhere in Gujarat....

First they sold potatoes at Rs 3 a kg, then they donated them to gaushalas, now they are dumping them by truckloads in the river. Such is the desperation among potato growers of Deesa, who also supply to McDonald’s. “At least 5 lakh sacks (each containing 50 kg) are being thrown in the river daily to empty the packed cold storages due to fresh arrival following a bumper crop production,” president of Cold Storage Owners Association Ganpat Kachhwaha said. “Even after disposing of 20 lakh sacks, we have 30 lakh bags in cold storages. We cannot even afford to take back the bags from storages. The annual rent of the bags kept in cold storage (Rs 50 per bag) and the freight charges (Re 1 per bag) are higher than the market value of the potatoes,” a potato grower Arun Saini said. General secretary Babulal Mali of Potato Growers Association, Deesa (Banaskantha), the major potato growing centre in the state, attributes it to “influx of tuber from upcountry, selling pressure of local traders, expectation of new crop and lack of buying support.” At least 12 cows have died so far due to overeating of the dumped potatoes in Aakol village situated at the bank of river Banas, three kilometre from Deesa, and at other places in the district.Banaskatha collector J B Vora said, “I suggested donating potatoes to those holding Below Poverty Line cards and for the mid-day meal scheme instead of dumping them in the river, which besides going waste is also causing pollution.” Apprehending huge losses due to poor rates, potato growers have urged the state government to help them by providing subsidy on freight and in export.