Bhopal, Mar 16 (UNI) The Opposition staged a walkout in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly today protesting the BJP government's move to allot more than 300 hectares on the Narmada riverbank in Jabalpur to Yoga expert Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust.
The walkout, led by Leader of the Opposition Jamuna Devi (Cong), was staged to express dissatisfaction over the regime's reply even as Revenue Minister Kamal Patel said the government guidelines for land allotment to social organisations would be strictly followed in the case of Baba Ramdev's Trust also.
Mr Patel admitted that the Trust earlier demanded allotment of more than 655 ha at Sarda, Hargarh, Daroulikhurd and Ghughra villages and another 48.88 ha at Lamhetaghat on the riverbank.
About 262.48 ha in the villages and 45.43 ha at Lamhetaghat were found suitable for allotment, he said, adding Bhedaghat Town Panchayat functionaries supported the move.
However, no forest land or land belonging to tribals or other weaker sections was being acquired. A public interest litigation challenging allotment at Lamhetaghat was pending in the High Court.
Mr Patel, who was replying to the debate on a call attention notice moved by Dr Nishit Patel, Mr Sajjan Singh Verma (both Cong) and Ms Saroj Bachchan Nayak (JD-U), denied the opposition claim that objections raised by the villagers against allotment were not properly heard. Ms Nayak initially staged the walkout alone, while other Opposition members led by Ms Devi later staged a similar protest.
The Minister also denied that the government was acting with a motive to allot government land to the Trust bypassing norms and depriving the poor of their means of livelihood. The Trust sought the land for raising a nursery of medicinal plants, he said, adding environment stipulations would be strictly followed in alloting land along the river.
When Mr Arif Aqueel (Cong) pointed out that the Lamhetaghat land was earmarked for tourism, Speaker Ishwardas Rohani said Rs 17 crore -- allotted by the Centre earlier -- had been utilised.
UNI
The walkout, led by Leader of the Opposition Jamuna Devi (Cong), was staged to express dissatisfaction over the regime's reply even as Revenue Minister Kamal Patel said the government guidelines for land allotment to social organisations would be strictly followed in the case of Baba Ramdev's Trust also.
Mr Patel admitted that the Trust earlier demanded allotment of more than 655 ha at Sarda, Hargarh, Daroulikhurd and Ghughra villages and another 48.88 ha at Lamhetaghat on the riverbank.
About 262.48 ha in the villages and 45.43 ha at Lamhetaghat were found suitable for allotment, he said, adding Bhedaghat Town Panchayat functionaries supported the move.
However, no forest land or land belonging to tribals or other weaker sections was being acquired. A public interest litigation challenging allotment at Lamhetaghat was pending in the High Court.
Mr Patel, who was replying to the debate on a call attention notice moved by Dr Nishit Patel, Mr Sajjan Singh Verma (both Cong) and Ms Saroj Bachchan Nayak (JD-U), denied the opposition claim that objections raised by the villagers against allotment were not properly heard. Ms Nayak initially staged the walkout alone, while other Opposition members led by Ms Devi later staged a similar protest.
The Minister also denied that the government was acting with a motive to allot government land to the Trust bypassing norms and depriving the poor of their means of livelihood. The Trust sought the land for raising a nursery of medicinal plants, he said, adding environment stipulations would be strictly followed in alloting land along the river.
When Mr Arif Aqueel (Cong) pointed out that the Lamhetaghat land was earmarked for tourism, Speaker Ishwardas Rohani said Rs 17 crore -- allotted by the Centre earlier -- had been utilised.
UNI
Oneindia Login