legislative Affairs Minister Ajay Chandrakar was cornered by Opposition in the Chhattisgarh Assembly over unauthorised withdrawal of water by M/s GMR Energy limited from a barrage at Arang in Raipur district.
Replying to the question raised by Congress member Janakram Verma, the Minister informed that the barrage being constructed near Samoda village would be used to provide water for irrigating over 2,500 hectares of land and supplying water to a unit of GMR Energy limited.
BJP legislator Devji Bhai Patel termed the incident of alleged water theft and demanded action against officers involved in supplying water to industry without permission.
The Minister was replying to the question in the absence of Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal in the House.
The Mahasamund Municipality is also withdrawing 0.84 million cubic meter water for drinking water supply, he said.
However, Congress member Dhanendra Sahu said that GMR Energy limited had extracted water for a period of three months after expiry of trial period.
He questioned that if this was correct then had any FIR been registered in this connectionIJ
The Minister accepted that the company had withdrawn extra water and they were imposed triple penalty.
The BJP members also questioned the Minister over the issue.
BJP member Devji Bhai Patel then questioned that when Rs 38 lakh was to be collected from GMR Energy limited then why was an agreement made with the company for additional water supply of 2.77 million cubic meters.
The Minister said that penalty of Rs 82 lakh was collected from the company and termed it as a procedural error.
He assured the House that it would be ensured that such things do not happen again.