Revenue minister Prem Prakash Pandey refuted the issue of handing over the tribal land on lease to non-tribals and said the agreement is based on the ownership rights of the title holder, his individual capacity. leader of Opposition T.S. Singhdeo that in Scheduled Areas, the tribal land is being handed over on lease to non-tribals which are greatest concern. He sought intervention by state government so that local tribal is saved from loss of land, by bringing some ordinance or law.
Raising the query, Singhdeo had sought details that any order has been passed by state government in October 2016 where it allows lease facilities of tribal land to non-tribal in Scheduled Areas, if then, on what conditions. He further asked that till May 2018, how much land of Scheduled Tribe has been given to non-tribe, the district wise details are provided.
Replying to the query, Revenue Minister Prem Prakash Pandey said that under Chhattisgarh land-Revenue Code, 1959 section 165 sub-section (6) for the transfer, the ‘Patta’ (land-title) is not included. In both Scheduled and non-Scheduled area, any person Scheduled Tribe person can give the land to non-tribal on ‘patta’.
Minister states in Kanker district at village Durgkondal tehsil Durgkondal based Scheduled Tribe, has given his 0.120 hectare, a diverted land to 20 years lease to Shri Bajrang Power and Ispat limited, Raipur. In Raigarh district at village Baihamuda tehsil Gharghoda based ST two persons have given 1.620 hectare of land for 30 years lease to Janmitram Kalyan Samiti, Bade Atarmuda, Raigarh. In Jashpur district, two persons of ST community had given 0.558 hectare land to non-tribal person. In remaining districts there is no information.
Singhdeo said that due to lack of keeping the record there is no details available, will government make arrangement for it. He said that due to certain lacunae in such arrangement, government should stop the benami holding of land in Scheduled Areas. Minister said that opposition member is trying to politicise the issue on which Singhdeo said that it is not political issue but matter is being raised to protect the rights of tribal in state and it is a valid point which is being raised.