3 Things Protest against UltraTech, tariff heat on Indian rice, and Goa club fire case
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Dec 12, 2025 Vineet Bhalla, a staff reporter for The Indian Express, dives into the ongoing struggle of Jodhpura residents against UltraTech Cement, highlighting their fight for health and environmental justice amid mining disruptions. Harish Damodaran, the Rural Affairs editor, explains the U.S. tariff threats on Indian rice, clarifying that Indian basmati does not qualify as 'dumping' due to its premium pricing. The discussion also touches on the tragic Goa nightclub fire, revealing new arrests and legal complexities surrounding the case.
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Long Sit-In Led By Women
- Villagers of Jodhpura have been staging an indefinite sit-in protest at the cremation ground for over 1,000 days since December 2022.
- Women lead the protest because men fear losing contractual work with UltraTech, and many protesters have faced police detention.
NGT Orders Rare Village Rehabilitation
- The NGT applied the absolute liability principle and ordered a 500m no-blasting zone plus interim compensation and rehabilitation planning for the whole village.
- This ruling implicitly accepts that the environmental damage may be irreversible and sets a rare precedent for mandated relocation.
Sustain Pressure To Ensure Rehabilitation
- Successful implementation of rehabilitation will require political will, identification of suitable land, cost calculations and infrastructure building.
- Villagers must continue pressuring district and state officials because legal challenges from UltraTech can delay action.