Expressing dissatisfaction with the reply of Revenue Minister Prem Prakash Pandey, the Opposition Congress members on Tuesday staged a walkout over the issue of compensation and rehabilitation of people affected by acquisition of land for East Rail Corridor (Bhupdevpur-Dharamjaigarh) project, during call attention motion in the Chhattisgarh Assembly.
Raising the issue, Congress member Umesh Patel said the State Government has acquired land for East Rail Corridor (Bhupdevpur-Dharamjaigarh) project at a very large scale but is still to resolve issues pertaining to affected people’s rehabilitation, compensation distribution and employment to displaced people.
He further alleged that compensation distributed to some farmers is much less than the value of land acquired from them. likewise, several farmers are yet to receive compensation amount against the land acquired from them.
The State Government failed to ensure compensation and rehabilitation to affected and displaced people as per the present land acquisition and rehabilitation policy, charged Patel, adding that due to this, massive resentment is prevailing among the masses. The Union Railway Ministry is undertaking work related to the Rail corridor in Chhattisgarh and has acquired 255.008 hectares of private land under Indian Railway Act-1989, said Revenue Minister Prem Prakash Pandey, adding that the government has fixed `78.81 crore as compensation, of which `66.21 crore has been distributed among 1004 farmers while distribution of `12.61 crore is pending. He further informed that the Railways is collecting information of affected people for distribution of compensation under proposed rehabilitation scheme and sought time till June 2016 for depositing money.
Meanwhile, the Minister also informed that in this case, the Railways has no provision of giving employment to affected people as entire land of any person was not acquired.
Pandey also refuted the charge that the government is giving less compensation by citing various compensation cases. Besides, he also highlighted the works ongoing under rehabilitation scheme.
Dissatisfied with the answer of the Minister, Congress members created uproar and staged walkout from the House.