The Madhya Pradesh Government was on Wednesday put in the dock by a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member over alleged purchase of land belonging to members of the tribal community by land mafia at cheap price in Jabalpur district.
Raising the issue in the Assembly through a calling attention notice, Susheel Kumar Tiwari said land mafia has purchased land belonging to tribals for Rs 80,000-90,000 per acre although the actual price was Rs 40-45 lakh per acre.
In his reply, Revenue Minister Rampal Singh said the procedures laid under the land Revenue Code were followed when land belonging to a tribal is transferred in the name of a non-tribal.
However, the member said more than 2,000 acre land has been purchased from 800-900 farmers and a scam of Rs 500 crore has been created. The purchases were being made in collusion with revenue officials.
The Minister announced an inquiry by a senior official from the General Administration Department into the matter within three months.
Besides, a few Congress members tried to raise similar issues concerning their areas but were disallowed by Speaker Sitasharan Sharma as it was not related to the original query.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Animal Husbandry Minister Kusum Mehdele today admitted in the Assembly that the quality of pipes being used in the 'Nal Jal Yojna' is poor.
"Complaints had been received regarding poor quality of pipes in water supply schemes in four villages in Manasa assembly segment in Neemuch district. The process of changing them is underway," Mehdele said while replying to a query by Kailash Chawla (ruling Bharatiya Janata Party).
"These pipes are purchased by the Madhya Pradesh Small Industries Corporation. I admit that the pipes are of poor quality. I would discuss in this regard with Industry Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia," she said.
In reply to another question by Ramniwas Rawat of the Congress, over several water supply schemes not functioning due to nonavailability of generators, the Minister assured that generators would be made available in two months' time.