A day after the JVM raised the issue of extraordinarily reducing price of land fixed for sale and purchases in Godda district, the Government presented its point of view rubbishing the claims. The counterclaim from the Government has in fact held the then DC of Godda liable for a factual mistake.
“I have seen the file and there is no substance into the allegations. The then DC in his calculation in 2014 had erred and equated kattha with decimal. Then a committee was formed that suggested correction. It was a genuine mistake committed by the DC which is being exaggerated by the JVM leader,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy told The Pioneer on Wednesday.
He was responding to the allegations levelled by the JVM, which on Wednesday demanded a CBI probe into the matter. JVM MlA Pradeep Yadav alleging charges of corruption and crony capitalism involved sought for a thorough probe.
“There is clear evidence how this Government through a Cabinet note suppressed the genuine rate suggested by the former DC of Godda. The farmers of the area due to the decision are set to lose enormously. The price would fall down 10 times from the originally proposed compensation. It is clearly for benefiting big corporate houses who are being lured to come and invest in the State at the cost of poor farmers,” said the MlA.
Notably, JSPl, Adani Power and few other corporate houses have applied for land in Godda, Sahebgunj, Pakur and Dumka for setting up projects related to power and iron and steel. Showing documents in his possession, the MlA claimed that the then Godda DC had in 2014 proposed after calculating the set procedures and provisions under the revised land acquisition act Rs41,56,000 for every acre of raiyati land.
“Nevertheless, the Government while doing grave injustice to the farmers of the area brought a Cabinet note and got it passed in October last year saying that rate of land where it is non-salable under CNT/SPT provisions, would be determined by accessing average of all the districts of the division. Based on the order, now the rate of land has come down from over Rs41 lakh to just Rs3.25 lakh per acre. It is clearly to benefit the likes of Adani and Jindal,” added Yadav.
Roy, on his part, went ahead saying that when the corrections were made there was ‘no Adani’ in picture. “The rate they are pressing with is equivalent to Connaught Place in New Delhi,” said the Minister.
The earlier DC had proposed the rate based on average of three years — 2011-2012-2013 — for deciding the Government rate of land. The method of calculation was in accordance with Section-25 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Considering the two times compensation payable in rural areas and 100 per cent additional of the land value, the land losers are fearing to lose hefty sum to the companies, feels the party.
At the same, the JVM also got support of JMM and other Opposition members on the issue. JMM leader Hemant Soren suggested taking it on 30 years' lease instead of acquiring land from the farmers for non-farm activities.