Congress members on Wednesday raised the issue of adverse impact on agricultural land in Surajpur district due to water released from underground coal mine of South Eastern Coalfields limited (SECl) through call attention motion in Chhattisgarh Assembly.

The Opposition members  demanded the State Government to initiate concrete moves in the interest of farmers.

Raising the issue through call attention motion, leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo said as a result of water released from underground mine of SECl in Surajpur’s Navapara region, agricultural land is slowly transforming into swamp. Due to negligible approach of the mine management, lands of around 150 farmers were affected, he said.

 The affected farmers have launched an agitation on October 12, 2012, said Singhdeo,In his statement, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Prem Prakash Pandey said as per information received, SECl’s coal mine in Navapara region was started in 2006 and since then, water from the mine was released to nearby agricultural field according to the demand and consent of farmers for irrigation purpose.

According to him, due to excess release of water, crop loss was recorded in 2012.

Under the leadership of one farmer Chattarlal Sanvre, farmers have staged a demonstration, the district administration in the presence of SECl’s officials and farmers took stock of the losses.

The study carried out by the administration revealed that 76 farmers have suffered partial loss and ` 957656 was fixed as compensation.

Of the 76 farmers, compensation has been given to 64 farmers through bank, added the Minister.

The government is committed to protect interest of farmers, stated Pandey.