000-tobecategorised

Centre clears oil exploration in disputed Assam-Nagaland border area of Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Jorhat https://mokokchungtimes.com/centre-clears-oil-exploration-in-disputed-assam-nagaland-border-area-of-hoollongapar-gibbon-wildlife-sanctuary-jorhat/

According to the minutes of the NBWL meeting, a team comprising officials from the Union Environment Ministry, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and the Assam Forest Department inspected the project site, located approximately 13 km from the sanctuary, on November 15. The inspection committee found that exploratory drilling would cause minimal damage but stated that commercial drilling would not be permitted. Vedanta Group provided written assurance that no commercial drilling will take place at the site.

However, a senior official from the ministry noted that exploratory drilling is a crucial first step in hydrocarbon extraction, which may eventually lead to commercial drilling. Another official added that the inspection committee’s report advised against any oil or gas extraction from within the ESZ, even if reserves are discovered.

Officials also confirmed that Vedanta Group has committed to using exploration solely for identifying hydrocarbon reserves, and any extraction, if reserves are found, will take place outside the ESZ. The company further assured that no hazardous substances would be used during exploration. The Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary spans 20.98 sq km, while its ESZ extends to 264.92 sq km. This expansive ESZ ensures connectivity between the sanctuary, the Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest, and forested areas in Nagaland—vital for the seven primate species residing in the region. The sanctuary is already under strain from human activities, and a proposal to electrify a railway line passing through the sanctuary was recently recommended by the Standing Committee. 

https://www.constructionworld.in/policy-updates-and-economic-news/centre-approves-drilling-in-assams-eco-sensitive-sanctuary/67565

 Guardians of the Gibbons: can India save its only ape species from extinction? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwJWIecrx9o
The Guardian

 Hemant Atri on Gautam Adani Indictment & Elon Musk Tie-Up: Trump Can’t Save Him from Criminal Trial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=queuou6VfuQ The Public India

Everything we know about US indictment of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani  https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/gautam-adani-indictment-fraud-bribery-net-worth-b2652749.html Modi ally accused of bribing Indian officials to get lucrative renewable energy contracts....

Mr Adani, 62, has been charged with conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, directly advancing the bribery scheme, and obstructing investigations that began in 2022.

The contracts to sell 12 gigawatts of solar power that his conglomerate obtained between 2020 and 2024 in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh allegedly through the bribery scheme are expected to generate over $2bn (£1.58bn) in profit.

https://x.com/kharge/status/1859506075512291687  A comprehensive JPC, which not only investigates every aspect of the working of the Adani Group, the deliberate institutional erosion of the SEBI, SECI and government bodies, and the deals of Adani Group in foreign countries is the need of the hour.

 Modi govt’s aversion to data: A decade of missing numbers  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BuhnZp7Dnc
The News Minute Data is essential for effective governance—it informs decisions, tracks progress, and holds authorities accountable. But what happens when the government stops sharing data? From census delays since 2011 to missing statistics on crime, education, health, and more, an IndiaSpend’s investigation reveals that 16 critical datasets and 9 Union ministry annual reports are delayed, some for years.

Inside Modi Govt’s War Room to Whitewash Global Indices  https://www.reporters-collective.in/trc/inside-modi-govts-war-room-to-whitewash-global-indices   The Reporters’ Collective investigation has revealed that it is part of a “whole-of-government approach” devised by the Prime Minister’s Office to closely monitor 30 global indices and reach out to agencies that publish the indices to convince them to change their parameters – what they measure –  if India is doing badly in their reports, which it often does. he ministry responsible for tracking the index began compiling all such arguments and then triggered the lobbying machinery. The government gets in touch with the publishing agency to force them to “course correct”. For that it could use Indian missions abroad to talk to the publishers. Documents show the missions talked to publishers of Global Gender Gap Index, Democracy Index and Global Competitiveness Index. 

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/eiu-not-sharing-info-on-democracy-index-govt-101629050360548.html  The Union government tried to engage with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) headquartered in London, following the latter’s “Democracy Index” ranking of India that categorised India as a “flawed democracy”, 

Critical Data Remain Elusive, As 2024 Comes To A Close https://www.indiaspend.com/data-gaps/critical-data-remain-elusive-as-2024-comes-to-a-close-936492 
16 critical datasets are delayed, nine ministries are yet to release their annual reports and the Census is now three years overdue, affecting policy-making and weakening transparency

https://infogram.com/crucial-datasets-in-india-1h1749w3ymknq2z table of crucial dataset 

 Suspension of IIPS director sparks allegations of government interference in academic sphere https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/suspension-of-iips-director-ks-james-part-of-a-larger-pattern/article67205268.ece
Academics fear the suspension is part of a government plan to silence K.S. James, who resisted political pressure to manipulate data.