Chhattisgarh Assembly witnessed uproar on the issue of giving the road, constructed on the right embankment of Hasdeo Barrage, to Swastik Sponge Iron company for transportation overlooking the request of Coal India limited for diverting the canal and thereby to reap Rs 11000 crore royalty on the 5 hundred million ton coal deposits beneath it just to favour an industrial house having political clout.
Just after Question Hour Congress member Mohammad Akbar through his adjournment motion wanted immediate discussion on the issue alleging that Swastik Sponge And Power limited situated at Village Konberi, Khairbhawana of Korba district had sought permission to use the right embankment of Hasdeo Barrage from RBC 9 km to 20 km for transportation.
It applied for use of the road from 08 km to 17 km on 16.4.2008 and in turn Water Resources department in contravention of the norms allowed the company to use it with a rider at the cost that if the company will foot the bill of construction of the road overlooking the fact that CMPDI of Coal India, a government of india enterprise, had informed the water resources department through its letter that beneath the right embankment of the barrage in between km 08 to 17 km 500 million ton coal was deposited for which the state can reap a royalty of Rs 11000 crore at the present market price of coal.
For this the SECl also approved a proposal to bear the cost of diversion of RBC Canal (also called Sarva Mangala Canal) from 08 km to 17 km by itself.
But to favour the Swastik Sponge and Power limited enjoying political clout in the state now road is being constructed there by creating pressure on the water resources department whereas the company has already started using the barrage embankment for transportation without construction of the road due to which at several places lining of the RBC Canal has been damaged, the member alleged.
Alleging that earlier also the instances of State government selling natural resources of Chhattisgarh to industrialists overlooking the interest of the state have come to light, therefore the house should discuss this vital issue suspending all other works.
Speaker Dharamlal Kaushik questioned the timing of the adjournment motion saying that the issue was not new and bringing adjournment motion during Budget session also was against the tradition. Since treasury benches too were protesting against the adjournment motion, the Speaker rejected it altogether. The opposition then walked out of the House in protest.