Farmers and other campaigners are stepping up protests against a number of proposed factory developments across India, affecting companies such as Tata Motors, POSCO, and Vedanta Resources.

Farmers in the east of West Bengal state have stepped up protests against the car factory currently slated to be the home of Tata Motors 'Nano', which was previewed recently as the world's cheapest car and one which would improve pollution problems in many Indian cities. The factory is to be built on farmland which was compulsory purchased.

Farmers are also to campaign against South Korean steel firm POSCO which was granted permission by the Supreme Court to use forest land to build a $12bn factory, and Vedanta Resources which has won court agreement to mine bauxite on the Niyamgiri mountain which has been regarded as sacred by the Kondh tribe.