Autonomous body for environmental clearances
The Supreme Court has ordered formation of an autonomous authority by March 31, which will take over the licensing and clearance powers of the environment ministry. The forest officials will still have the power to clear projects coming up in forest areas but implementation of the forest policy would come under the new authority’s domain.
CAG can audit telecom companies
Delhi High Court has allowed Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to audit private telecom companies. The firms had allegedly been underreporting their profits to save on payment of 6-10 % of their revenue as licence fees to DoT.
Environment ministry clears Posco
Posco steel plant, pending since 2006, gets clearance from environment ministry but yet to get a go-ahead from NGT on felling of trees on the acquired land.
Money won't get them coal
The Supreme Court observed that huge investments made in coal plants can't be the reason for regularisation of mines allotted in violation of norms. The Centre is now mulling cancellation of all coal blocks.
Rs 1,400 crore to track public transport
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved setting up of GPS tracking, emergency buttons and video recording facilities in public transport across 32 cities of the country. The project is one of the initiatives launched to ensure women safety after the 2012 Delhi gangrape.
Environment ministry rejects Vedanta's mining proposal
It comes after 12 state-government designated villages said no to bauxite mining on Niyamgiri Hills of Odisha.
Relaxed FDI norms for railways, construction
Government to further liberalise FDI rules to attract foreign investments especially in railways and construction activities. This will push the development of Mumbai-Ahmedabad industrial corridor, locomotive factories and network addition.
MGNREGS to help with open defecation
Rural sanitation works have been included in the approved tasks under MGNREGS which is likely to push the toilet coverage in villages.
India conquers space with indigenous technology
ISRO becomes sixth space agency in the world to successfully use indigenously built cryogenic engine when it launched the GSLV D-5 to put an advanced communications satellite in the orbit.
Natural gas to cost more from April
Government notifies new guidelines under which the price of natural gas will be revised every quarter based on average price of liquefied natural gas imports into India and benchmark global gas rates.
Mumbai builders will shell out more
According to the Supreme Court’s order, they have to keep six metres of passage around a proposed building and maintain an open-to-sky space at ground level which should be 15 to 25 per cent of the total size mentioned in a plan. The order was passed to ensure easy manoeuvring of fire-fighting vehicles and recreational facility.
Trial possible without FIR, chargesheet
A person whose name figures in alleged crime during the course of a trial can be tried even if his name does not figure either in an FIR or a chargesheet, says the Supreme Court.
New policy for youth
The Cabinet approved the National Youth Policy 2014, which focuses on education, skill development, employment, entrepreneurship, health, promotion of social values, community engagement, participation in politics and governance, inclusion and social justice.
This is a weekly roundup of important policy news from Jan 5-12, 2013