Three big-ticket railway projects, whose combined cost is more than Rs 5,000 crore, have hit a logjam as those from whom Indian Railways had acquired land for these projects are now demanding railway jobs in return, citing a policy rolled out by former railway minister Mamata Banerjee. Coach factories in Rae Bareli in UP and Marhaura in Bihar and a wheel factory in Bihar’s Chapra are stuck even though Mamata’s novel policy is applicable only to land acquisitions that took place since 2010, long after after these projects were approved.

The Uttar Pradesh government has stepped up efforts to attract private companies from the United States and South Africa to set up units to generate electricity from solid wastes.

"I am very much interested in this scheme. I really want such units to be set up in big cities. This will not only take care of power problem but also help the urban local bodies to manage domestic waste," Urban Development Minister Mohammad Azam Khan told 'The Pioneer' here on Friday.

LUCKNOW: Already facing shortage of coal, power plants in Uttar Pradesh are also receiving hiccups due to snags that threaten to get prolonged, thereby putting power supply in a grave jeopardy. The latest case pertains to tripping of two units of 200 Mw each at Obra power plant, which may revive only next year, UP Power Corporation Limited officials told TOI. Their claim is supported by the Northern Region Load Dispatch Centre, which suggests that the two units, cumulatively producing 400 Mw, may only revive by January 15, 2013.

A report on hunger and malnutrition in 112 districts across nine states of the country has revealed that 42.3 per cent children under the age of five years are underweight, 58.8 per cent are stunted and 11.4 per cent are “wasted”. Releasing the report prepared by Hyderabad-based Naandi Foundation here today, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh termed malnutrition a “national shame”.

The HUNGaMA (Hunger and Malnutrition) report covered 106 worst-performing districts as per the UNICEF child development index and six best-performing districts across three states.

It’s a village of 250-odd houses, mostly farming families. The population is around 1,000. People here may be born healthy but, chances are, many will die crippled. Most adults have deformed limbs, making it very difficult to walk, sit on the ground or work in the fields. They are all victims of fluorosis.

The village, which falls in Rae Bareli’s Kheero development block, has high fluoride content in the groundwater. Yet, everyone here drinks water from the 40 handpumps or two wells.

With an eye on Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh early next year, Vilasrao Deshmukh

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh now has a unique distinction. The state, after scaling new lows on several fronts, has now achieved another statistical feat most would shy away from.

LUCKNOW: In a significant development, the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), on Monday, ordered 25 agro-waste based paper industries in the state to stop the process of chemical pulping, a move that could lead to closure of these units.

Two poachers have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district with 40 tortoises in their possession, police said Wednesday.

The two men were nabbed Tuesday night in Naseerabad town of Rae Bareli, some 80 km from Lucknow. Two of their aides, however, managed to escape with sacks containing nearly 50 other tortoises.

LUCKNOW: The state government is all set to launch e-district scheme in all over the state to promote e-governance in every sphere of life and activity of the people.