Protest against public hearing for N-plant  By A Representative Representations and protests against the environment impact assessment (EIA) report by an unaccredited body, of the proposed nuclear plant at Mithi Virdi in Bhavnagar district in Gujarat, are starting to have an impact. The Union ministry of environment and forests, taking cognizance of the representation from the Parayavaran Suraksha Samiti (PSS), Vadodara, Gujarat, against the project, as also from other "persons, organizations, institutions", has sought clarification from PB Rastogi, director, expert appraisal committee (EAC), Nuclear Power Projects. It wants "necessary action" be taken in case the environmental public hearing (EPH) for EIA was held on March 5.

By Dr Aseema Sinha* India is home to one of the world’s largest populations living with HIV/AIDS after South Africa, the worst affected nation in the world. The first case was detected in 1986 and since then HIV/AIDS has rapidly spread throughout India. India’s infection rate is nearly twice that of Brazil and India is home to 2.5 to 3.8 million reported HIV cases, the highest in South Asia and, again, third, after South Africa and Nigeria.24 Given India’s population and its youthful character, the HIV/AIDS crisis, if unchecked, could have serious domestic consequences and gravely affect the global effort to curb the epidemic.Despite a fast brewing HIV/AIDS crisis, state capacity, as well as indigenous pharmaceutical capability, the Indian state’s response has been slow, fragmented, and ineffective.

Mining in progress in the river bed By Ashok Shimali * Anti-mining movement is gearing up in South Gujarat. The main slogan of the movement is, "Save river, save forest, save nature, save minerals and save our life". At the bank of Purana river in Kosambai village near Valod town in Tapi district, more than 10,000 peoples started an impressive agitation against rampant mining activities in Purna and Valmiki rivers. People gathered under the banner of the Adivasi Ekata Parishad. Mainly local tribals, they began an indefinite agitation on April 17, which converted into eight representatives of the Adivasi Ekta Parishad going on hunger strike, which began on April 22.

By Ashok Shrimali*  In an important development, the Odisha government is coming up with a new amendment to the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (by Scheduled Tribes) regulations, 1956, which seeks to undermine the fifth schedule of the Indian constitution. The fifth schedule gives special rights to tribals over natural resources, including land, in tribal areas. The amendment, if pushed through, will be the first of its kind in India where the fifth scheduled tribal area land will be easily alienation to non-tribals. The land will be allowed to be sold to a mining company or a corporate house. The implications are grave: The amendment, if passed, will prompt other states too to follow the Odisha “model”.