The Opposition blamed the State Government for approving the tenders of tendu leaf on lower rates than the last year, resulting in loss of `200 crore and staged a walkout dissatisfied with the reply of the forest department minister Vikram Usendi. The issue came up for discussion through the call attention motion of members Bholaram Sahu, Shivraj Singh Usare and Ramdayal Uike.
Charging the senior officials of colluding with tendu leaf contractors to keep the reserve price at Rs 1500 per standard sac, lower than last year, in first bidding while in second bidding accepting tenders at Rs 800 to Rs 2000 less rates, the opposition said that government bid price could have been fixed before calling the tenders.
They alleged that tendu leaf collection work starts after 15 April only but the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Association showed undue haste in calling and approving the tender. They were of the view that through the open auction system rate of tendu leaf tender could have been increased considerably. Due to erroneous tender procedure Tribal people engaged in this work have already suffered the loss of Rs 160 crore in addition to Rs 40 crore loss to state exchequer in terms of loss of commercial tax at the rate of 25 percent levied on this item.
Also, after the sale of tendu leaf, government gives bonus to tribal people but due to loss in sale of tendu leaf this year, there is confusion regarding bonus distribution. In 2012 tendu leaves were sold in Rs 600 crore. The members alleged that some officials are working in the department for years, who by colluding with tendu leaf contractors have caused the heavy loss to both tendu leaf collectors and the State Government leading to great resentment among Tribal people.
In his reply Forest Minister Vikram Usendi refuted the charges of the members saying that the talk of Rs 200 crore loss was hypothetical as price of tendu leaf is fixed as per the rate prevalent and demand of the market. He informed the house that Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Association only calls the bid which is approved by the inter departmental committee which comprises senior officials of Forest, Finance, Industry and Scheduled Tribes departments. This year too the normal procedure was followed and tenders were approved in four rounds of biddings but even after that only 13.35 lakh standard sacs of tendu leaf could be sold out of the total 16.44 lakh sacs.
However, dissatisfied with his answers the entire opposition walked out from the house in protest towards the fag end of the zero hour.