Bureau of Land Management to get $300 million to spend on 650 approved projects

October 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prolonged delays in acquiring land for industrial projects could endanger potential investments worth $100 billion in India, according to an industry lobby report. "Delays in land acquisition procedures for industrial projects are threatening to endanger investments worth $100 billion all over the country in near term," said the report of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham).

September 30th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Haryanas ruling Congress seems to be selling foreign dreams to farmers in the state in their election manifesto released Wednesday, offering them help in buying land in any part of the world if their land is acquired to set up Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Farmers whose land will be acquired by us will get all help from our officials to buy land not only in other states of India but also in other countries of their choice, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said here.

September 17th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - The Orissa government Thursday held a meeting to review 14 greenfield projects underway in the state, an official said. "We reviewed the progress of 14 big projects.

September 17th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - The Orissa government, which Thursday reviewed the progress of 14 greenfield projects underway in the state, said most of the companies setting up these projects have not completed land acquisition. "Acquiring land is the biggest problem before these mega projects.

September 16th, 2009 GAO says drilling policy caused BLM confusionCHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Government Accountability Office says the U.S.

September 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The railways ministry Wednesday said it would not resort to forceful acquisition of land for railway projects, and that it would review its land acquisition policy. "The ministry of railways has decided that there shall not be any forceful acquisition of land for railway projects," the ministry said in a statement.

September 14th, 2009 Appeals court blocks BLM-Asarco land swapPHOENIX — A federal appeals court ruled Monday that a proposed land exchange between the federal Bureau of Land Management and copper miner Asarco LLC violates environmental laws. The ruling in the lawsuit filed by three environmental groups in 2001 overturns a lower court decision backing the exchange long sought by Asarco.

August 15th, 2009 KOLKATA - The West Bengal government Saturday said it will acquire land for the projects announced by Railways Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee, whose party has been involved in several anti-land acquisition agitations in the state, has announced many projects for the state, and the railways need at least 321 acres for eight projects across various districts.

August 7th, 2009 Senate confirms Abbey to head BLMCARSON CITY, Nev. — The U.S.

August 7th, 2009 Senate confirms 2 Interior officials.WASHINGTON — The Senate on Friday approved the nomination of two of President Barack Obama's top Interior Department officials to help oversee public land use policies. The senators, shortly before departing for their August recess, approved without dissent Bob Abbey as director of Interior's Bureau of Land Management and Wilma Lewis as assistant secretary for land and minerals management.

July 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Acquisition of land remains the biggest challenge in road projects development, Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath said here Tuesday. "When I look at the challenges ahead I feel that today land acquisition remains the biggest challenge for road construction," Kamal Nath said while addressing a conclave on highways development.

June 29th, 2009 Fed works to speed solar development in SouthwestLAS VEGAS — The federal government's top land steward said Monday that the United States will fast-track efforts to build solar power generating facilities on public space in six Western states. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he has signed an order setting aside more than 1,000 square miles of public land for two years of study and environmental reviews to determine where solar power stations should be built.

June 29th, 2009 Public lands in 6 states set for solar projectsLAS VEGAS — The federal government's top land steward said Monday that the United States will fast-track efforts to build solar power generating facilities on public space in six Western states. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he has signed an order setting aside more than 1,000 square miles of public land for two years of study and environmental reviews to determine where solar power stations should be built.

March 3rd, 2009 RANCHI - Hundreds of farmers staged a protest here Monday against the acquisition of land for projects envisaged by aluminium major Hindalco, and steel manufacturer Jindal Steel and Power. 'We will lay down our lives but will not give an inch of land to Jindal Steel and Hindalco,' the protesters shouted as they marched to the governor's residence to lodge their protest.

December 26th, 2008 CHANDIGARH - A group of ex-servicemen and a farmers association here Saturday demanded a central agency probe into the mega projects initiated by S.F. Rodrigues, the administrator of Chandigarh.