Title - BJP MLA says Chhattisgarh govt ‘favouring’ GMR group with land acquisition for rail-line

RAIPUR: Land acquisition for a railway line at Tilda, near the state capital in Chhattisgarh , has sparked a row with a senior BJP legislator alleging that the state government was doing it under the garb of a proposed industrial area to directly benefit infrastructure giant GMR Group to transport coal to its 1370 MW thermal power plant, now under construction.Raising the issue during the question hour, senior BJP leader Devji Bhai Patel, who represents Dharsiva constituency in the assembly, said the revenue department had published notices in the newspapers for land acquisition for "industrial purpose" in Tilda tehsil. He alleged that the state run Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) has misled the revenue department for acquiring land for laying a rail-line between Tilda and Raikheda, sparking a heated debate during the question hour."This land acquisition is for the GMR Chhattisgarh Energy Limited for transportation of coal to its upcoming thermal power plant", he said alleging that the acquisition was in gross violation of norms as no government agency could acquire land for a private party.
MR Chhattisgarh Energy Limited (a subsidiary of GMR Group) is setting up a 1370-Mw thermal power plant in Tilda—about 40 km from here.However, state revenue minister Dayaldas Baghel sought to clarify that the land acquisition and proposed rail-line was part of an extensive industrial project, including the proposed mega industrial area in Raikheda. He said the land in question had not been handed over to the GMR for the rail-line.

However, the BJP legislator countered the minister's statement saying that there was no plan for establishing an industrial area in Raikheda and only GMR's power plant is coming up in the area. " "Talks about establishing an industrial area at Raikheda is just a facade and the state Industries Corporation was trying to directly help the private company by trying to by-pass all the norms", he said reiterating that the government cannot acquire land for the benefit of any industry.

When Patel alleged that the power company had even started construction work on the land proposed to be acquired and the villagers had recently got it stopped, the minister said he was willing to conduct a probe into the allegation.

"I have no problem if the CSIDC is building the rail-line for use of industries but cannot be handed over to the power company", Patel said adding that people in eight villages would be displaced with this proposed land acquisition. "We will not allow this land acquisition at any cost in my constituency", Patel said.

Former chief minister Ajit Jogi said the centre was in the process of formulating a law with regard to land acquisition under which no land could be acquired without consent of 80 per cent of farmers in the respective areas, that too with effect from 2007.