Three mining projects in Orissa violating environmental norms

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) Three mining projects-- Kurmitar Block Iron Mine, Mahulsukha Manganese Mines and Bhutuda Manganese Mine-- in Orissa are violating environmental norms, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

''None of these projects have been accorded environmental clearance by the government,'' Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena said in a written reply.

X X X BATS: Instances of hunting of fruit-eating bats cannot be ruled out, Mr Meena said.

Of the 13 species of fruit-eating bats in India, 3 are listed as 'Endangered', one as 'Vulnerable', four as 'Near Threatened', and five as of 'Least Concern'.

Salim Ali's Fruit Bat is being accorded highest degree of protection.

X X X WEATHER CHANNEL: Doordarshan has no proposal to launch a 24-hour television channel to forecast weather conditions across the country, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said.

X X X WAREHOUSING: Central Warehousing Corporation proposes to purchase 5 acres of land in Kannur (Kerala), 4 acres in Himachal Pradesh and 2.5 acres in Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu) during 2007-08, which will increase the storage capacity in each state by 10,000 MT.

The tentative cost of purcase of land is Rs 22.50 lakh in Tamil Nadu, Rs 20 lakh in Himachal Pradesh and Rs 10 lakh in Kerala, Minister of State for Food and Public Distribution Akhilesh Prasad Singh said.

X X X STEEL: The government has submitted a restructuring proposal of Hindustan Steelworks Construction Ltd (HSCL) to the Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises.

Though the company is not a sick unit, it has been incurring net losses, Minister of State for Steel Akhilesh Das said.

UNI