Leader of the Opposition, Umang Singhar, raised the issue during Question Hour in the ongoing Budget Session.
File Photo: IANS
Accusing the Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav-led Bharatiya Janata Party government of being anti-tribal, the opposition Congress staged a walkout of the State Assembly here on Thursday over land acquisition for the Adani Group’s coal mines at Dhirauli in the tribal-dominated Singrauli district.
Leader of the Opposition, Umang Singhar, raised the issue during Question Hour in the ongoing Budget Session.
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He alleged that adequate compensation was not being provided to affected people and claimed that many ineligible persons had wrongly received compensation. Singhar demanded an investigation by a joint committee of MLAs.
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He stated that land in eight villages was being acquired for the coal mines and, according to the Collector’s list, 12,998 families were affected.
He further alleged that affected tribal families had not received full compensation and that serious irregularities had occurred in its distribution.
Singhar claimed that compensation funds had also been given to outsiders. He alleged that the wife of a police station in-charge in the area received compensation of over ₹15 lakh, while the spouse of a traffic police officer received approximately ₹14 lakh.
He demanded an impartial investigation by a joint committee of the Assembly into the entire matter.
The Leader of the Opposition alleged that the government was benefiting the Adani Group in the name of coal mining, while affected people were being deprived of their rightful compensation.
He demanded that work on the coal block be stopped immediately until the investigation was completed and all affected families received full compensation.
Responding on behalf of the government, Revenue Minister Karan Singh Verma and Rural Development Minister Prahlad Singh Patel assured the House that the government was acting in accordance with the established compensation policy and that strict action would be taken if any irregularities were found.
Karan Singh Verma said that compensation had been distributed to 1,552 affected families so far.
He termed the Congress allegations completely false and maintained that a joint committee probe was unnecessary when compensation was already being provided.
Prahlad Patel also assured the House that, if required, a list of all compensation beneficiaries would be tabled in the Assembly.
Despite the ministers’ assurances, Congress members continued to create a ruckus.
They raised slogans, prompting Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.
When proceedings resumed, Singhar reiterated his demand for a joint committee probe and questioned why the government was hesitant.
Opposition members again created a ruckus and raised slogans.
Shortly thereafter, Congress members staged a walkout, accusing the government of being anti-tribal.
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