CG Assembly passes Rs 39600 crore-Appropriation Bill

CM hikes Shikshakarmis’ salary

Govt staff to get 7% DA

Raipur, March 30, 2012

The Rs 39600 crore-Appropriation Bill was passed through voice vote at state Assembly on Friday. Chief Minister Raman Singh addressed the House after debate on the Bill and announced sops for Shikshakarmis, farmers, government employees, panchayat representatives, etc.

He said the panchayat Shikshakarmis will get new pay-scale. Series promotion will be given to graduate panchayat teachers after completion of seven years of job and to non-graduate panchayat teachers after completion of ten years of job.

Presently, the pay-scale of assistant teachers (grade-3) is 3800-100-5800 (total salary in hand Rs 8600). After completion of the specified term, they will get 5000-150-20000 (total salary in hand Rs 10050). They will get 16% salary hike.

The pay-scale of teachers (grade-2) will increase from existing 4500-125-7000 (total salary in hand Rs 10583) to 6000-175-25000 (total salary in hand Rs 12560). Their salary will increase by 18%.

The pay-scale of lecturers (grade-1) will increase from existing 5300-150-8300 (total salary in hand Rs 11773) to 7000-200-30000 (total salary in hand Rs 15070). Their salary will increase by 27%.

The CM said the government would also sanction additional instalment of DA at regular intervals under series promotion.

Similarly, the government employees will now get 7% DA from April 1, 2012. They will receive second of instalment of the DA in July 2012. The CM assured the House that the difference in DA of Centre and state would be zero by the end of current fiscal. He informed that the government’s contract employees would also get 20% salary hike.

He further said that the farmers, besides obtaining short-term loan from rural and cooperative banks at 1% rate of interest (ROI), would also get similar loan from nationalised banks at 3% ROI. “The government will incur the remaining 4% ROI and give it to these banks in terms of loan grants.

He also announced to waive off power development cess of Rs 10 paise per unit taken from the farmers and poor on electricity connection for irrigation pumps and single-point connection.

He also amended announcement made by Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Hemchand Yadav in the House regarding panchayat representatives and said the sarpanches will get Rs 500 for being present in a panchayat meeting (maximum Rs 2000 per month) while panches will get Rs 100 (maximum Rs 200 per month).

He said the MPs and MLAs who could not get plots under government’s special residential scheme through Chhattisgarh Housing Board would not get 4000 sq ft plot in Dharampura. The government will make provision of 72 plots in Dharampura for MPs and MLAs.

Per capita income of MNREGA labourers stable: Choubey

 Raipur, March 30, 2012

The government’s claims that there has been marked rise in per capita income of state are empty boastings as financial condition of MNREGA labourers is still the same. Leader of opposition at state Assembly Ravindra Choubey negated government’s claims while during debate on Appropriation Bill in the House on Friday.

“It is not the per capital income of MNREGA labourers or poor but of some other people about whom the government is talking,” he said.

“How will development take place if agricultural lands and water will reduce? The government has neither announced any agriculture-based industry nor made any proposal for it. Rather it has turned the farmers’ market into the market of duplicate fertilisers and pesticides,” he said.

He lashed the Agriculture Minister for refusing to admit that farmers committed suicide because of heavy debts and cited example of his own constituency where a farmer killed himself when he failed to clear the loan amount.

On education sector he asked whether the government had ensured ten percent admission of poor students in private schools according to Centre’s directives. “Of course, the government is apathetic towards this but unfortunately it is not even improving the municipal schools which are in abject condition. While these schools lack basic infrastructure, the students too could not afford a pair socks, uniform, etc,” he said.

He pointed that the BJP’s national leaders had addressed their partymen at Madhav Rao Sapre School ground several time but in nine years the government did not even change old and ramshackle rooftop of the school.

He said the eight major roads, to be upgraded into fourlane roads on built-operate-transfer (BOT) system, was not for public but for convenient coal transportation. “If the PWD Minister seriously wants to improve road infrastructure then why the roads of Birgaon and Urla are in dejected condition,” he asked.

He said the government fund was not reaching to right hands due to corruption. “The government has failed in all fronts and the people of Chhattisgarh are severely annoyed by it,” he added.

If the government claims to have taken developmental measures for different sectors then why the Sukma college lacks teaching staff, why there is no doctor in Bijapur’s hospital and why various posts of patwari and other categories are vacant till date,” he asked.

He said none of the proposed industries in Bastar had started nor any local tribal had got job. “Just by signing an MoU to start a production unit in Chhattisgarh, the shares of Tata and Essar shoots up and they earn crores but the local people never get benefited even though,” he said.

He said the government simply makes announcements and ignores implementation part.

He said the government gives warm welcome to the industrialists and capitalists while suppress the voices of farmers and common people. “When the farmers, tribals and Shikshakarmis raise their voice and make genuine demands, the government resorts to lathicharge,” he said.

“The government takes time in formulating plans for farmers while promptly do the same for industrialists,” he said.

Govt fails to give result in 9 years: Choubey

Raipur, March 29, 2012

Leader of opposition Ravindra Choubey on Thursday said that the government had completely failed to give results in nine years of its regime. “It could not reach to the remote rural pockets and hence its claims about development are empty boastings,” he said while speaking against budgetary demands for General Administration, Finance, Planning, Economy & Statistical, Energy, Mining, Public relations, Information Technology & Biotechnology and Aviation departments at Vidhan Sabha.

He alleged that anarchy prevailed in the state. “Even the ruling BJP’s own parliamentarians speak about administrative anarchy. The mafias are steering the state administration. Land, coal and jungle mafias are flourishing and expanding their gamut in the state,” he added.

He pointed that the government had also kept its eye shut towards illegal sand mining. “The sand mafia is highly active in Raipur and Durg districts but no action has been taken against it so far,” he said.

Hinting that the allocation of mines was not done fairly, he demanded from the government to conduct inquiry into the recommendations made for allocation.

On Energy department he said the government should clarify as why it had to purchase power despite its claims of generating surplus electricity. “Two years back, the government purchased power worth Rs 17000 crore and last year it purchased power worth Rs 21000 crore. It seems that that the state is power surplus only in papers,” he added.

He indicated that before division, the CSEB was a profit-making board but the existing power companies were incurring huge loss. He asked from the government as how the power companies were at loss despite being handled by IAS officials. He informed the House that currently the loss of power companies was about Rs 988 crores. “Is this the reason the government want to increase power tariff,” he asked.

He said the villagers were annoyed of frequent power cuts and urged the Chief Minister to direct the power companies to stop it.

He informed the House that water supply in many gram panchayats had been disrupted because due to non-payment of power bills. “The government must show generosity and incur the burden of power bill so that the villagers may get uninterrupted water supply,” he said.

He further asked the CM to heed the problems and demands of the contract labourers working at substations.

He expressed surprise over the contracts being given to specific contractors despite e-tendering process. He said such trend could be seen in every department. “A glaring example is of Water Resources Department where one specific contractor gets project works worth Rs 1600 crore-anicuts a couple of times in different biddings,” he said.

On Aviation sector he said none of the airport construction projects had progressed in the selected districts.

Govt to fill grade III, IV posts at district level

House passes Rs 4636.68 crore-budgetary demands for CM’s departments through voice vote

Raipur, March 29, 2012

Aiming to provide ample job opportunities to locals of Bastar and Sarguja divisions in government departments, Chief Minister Raman Singh on Thursday announced that all posts of grade III and IV would be filled at district level. “Now, these posts will never remain vacant,” Singh said while he was speaking on demand for budgetary grants pertaining to General Administration, Finance, Planning, Economy & Statistical, Energy, Mining, Public relations, Information Technology & Biotechnology and Aviation departments at state Assembly. The House passed the budgetary demands of Rs 4636.68 crore for these departments through voice vote.

Singh said his government had earned public trust and would always strive to take development to every nook and corner of the state.

“The government also believes in power decentralisation. The recent constitution of nine new districts in the state is a major step in terms of decentralisation and proves that the government is concerned about common man.,” he said.

He informed the House that besides the posts of Collector and SP, the government had also approved posts of officials and employees for different departments in each district. “To develop administrative infrastructure in all the districts, the government has approved Rs 100 crore,” he added.

“Similarly with an objective to timely provide service to the applicants, the government has made Public service Guarantee Act effective. Under this Act, responsibility is being fixed on officials and employees. There is also a provision of punishment/fine under the Act to those who fail to redress problem of the applicants in the given timeframe. At present, there are 251 services under this Act,” he informed.

He said the government was also taking rapid action through Economic Offence Wing (EOW) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to fight against corruption and to make consolidate the administrative system.

He said the Public service Guarantee Act would surely expedite administrative works as he himself would monitor its implementation.

On provision of caste certificates to the SC, ST and backward class (OBC) people, he informed that the government has set target of distributing caste certificates to about 4.50 lakh students by December 2012. He said the government will ensure to provide caste certificates to the students before completion of their school studies.

He announced extension of period for application regarding compensation appointment from six months to three years.

On reservation to SC, ST and OBC, he said the quota had been fixed in proportion with the population. Objecting over the CM’s statement, the Congmen including senior legislator and PCC president Nandkumar Patel and his fellow MLA Dr Shiv Kumar Daharia demanded to raise SC quota slab up to 16% and OBC quota up to 27%. The CM said the Congress should better put their demand before Centre.

The CM claimed that the government had redressed 95 percent of the grievances related to different works during its gram suraj campaign.

Govt aims to provide water to every house

House passes Rs 3612.59 crore-budgetary demands for Tribal Welfare and PHE departments through voice vote

Raipur, March 28, 2012

The government has targeted to provide drinking water to each and every house. “Whether a family resides on a hilltop or any remote area, the government will ensure to provide water to all such families,” said Tribal Welfare and Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Kedar Kashyap while demanding budgetary grants for his departments at state Assembly on Wednesday. The House passed the budgetary demands of Rs 3612.59 crore for these departments through voice vote.

He informed the House that the government had approved 28 urban drinking water schemes for which there is a provision of Rs 116 crore in the budget. “Similarly, to provide drinking water in the rural pockets through hand pumps, the government will spend Rs 29.90 crore,” he said.

He claimed that the government had imparted unique identity to Chhattisgarh in the country by launching various development programmes for SC and ST communities for their social, economical and cultural upliftment. He termed the state as prototype in India in terms of its SC/ST programmes.

He also termed the 32 percent of quota provision by the government for SC community a significant step.

He informed the House that the government had improved the condition of ashram-hostels and developed them into prototypes. “Presently, there are 658 ashram-hostels in different districts of the state,” he said.

He announced that 100 higher secondary schools would be opened in the scheduled areas. “About 650 tribal students will be benefited by these schools,” he said.

He further declared that post matric scholarship scheme would be launched to encourage tribal students for pursuance of higher studies. “The beneficiary students will get scholarship electronic cards.  The entire procedure of scholarship distribution will be computerised so that the students may not wait for long time to obtain their scholarship,” he said.

He informed the House that the government had simplified process of issuing caste certificates. He said the department would also organise camps to rapidly issue caste certificates to the students from class 9^th and above. “For this, the government has made provision of Rs 1.10 crore in the budget,” he added.

“The government is also attempting to make the tribals self-reliant and financially stronger. For this, they are encouraged to start their own business. About 600 SC/ST persons are presently operating their independent business establishments,” he said.

“The constitution of SC Development Authority is the first of its kind in country and the state government aims to benefit the SC community through it. The government will spend Rs 30 crore through this Authority in 2012-13,” he informed.

He said considering prospects in nursing the government had made provision of Rs 9.52 crore in budget to impart training to about 400 tribal students in the specific discipline.

He also announced hike in financial succor to devgudis from Rs 25000 to Rs 50000. 

State lacks govt addiction centre: Dr Renu Jogi

Raipur, March 27, 2012

The government is running deaddiction programmes throughout the state but has not opened any deaddiction centre. To create awareness among the people, such centres should be opened in different parts of the state. The words were expressed by Congress MLA Dr Renu Jogi while she was speaking in state Assembly against the budgetary demands for Public Health & Family Welfare, Commercial Tax and Urban Administration & Development departments on Tuesday.

She indicated that the state needed more number of medical colleges. “Presently, there are only three medical colleges in Raipur, Bilaspur and Jagdalpur. The proposed medical college in Raigarh is still incomplete as only Rs 12 crore has been spent out of the total estimated cost of Rs 100 crore,” she said.

She urged the minister to take initiative to improve infrastructure of the medical colleges according to Medical Council of India (MCI) norms. She also pointed that the post graduation (PG) programme is only being run in the Raipur medical college and felt that the other two colleges too needed to commence PG courses in future.

She requested the minister to conduct meeting of deans and department heads of the medical colleges and to redress the grievances of the students who had lot of complaint regarding radical facility and other inconveniences.

“There is one non-clinical department in Raipur medical college from which the students have not passed for the past couple of years. This department has three years course but after two years the students are asked to change their thesis. Now, such treatments can provoke students to take unexpected steps and the government should make attempts to avoid these circumstances,” she said.

She asked the minister to start three-year paramedical course pointing that the pass-outs from such courses were playing significant roles in hospitals.

She further urged the minister to induct dental and physiotherapy students in government’s block or district level health centres as despite ample private colleges been opened in such disciplines, the pass-outs do not get opportunity to practice in government hospitals.

She suggested that the 100-beded mental psychological hospital being constructed in Sendri (Bilaspur district) should not be multi-storeyed. “Considering problems of the patients, there should cottages instead of multi-storeyed hospital for their accommodation and treatment. Besides, the Health department should also ensure not to keep mirrors, use glass windows and doors to prevent any mishap,” she said.

Govt to create 111 new posts in Sports department

House passes Rs 794.88 crore-budgetary demands for Women & Child development, Social Welfare and Sports & Youth Welfare departments through voice vote

Raipur, March 27, 2012

Government will create 111 new posts in Sport department. These posts would be preferably filled by the players meeting eligibility norms. The information was imparted by Women & Child development, Social Welfare and Sports & Youth Welfare Minister Lata Usendi while demanding budgetary grants for her departments at state Assembly on Tuesday. The House passed the budgetary demands of Rs 794.88 crore for these departments through voice vote.

“The government has already provided jobs to 25 outstanding players and would surely give priority to the sports persons while filling the vacant posts in future too,” said Usendi.

She informed the House that for the first time the state organised Khel Mahotsav from block to state levels. “The government has made provision of Rs three crore for Khel Mahotsav in budget 2012-13,” she said.

“The government is also encouraging players by felicitating them. On Khel Diwas, we distribute Khel Alankaran awards to the outstanding sportspersons of the state,” she informed.

“Besides, the government had made adequate provision for training programmes of the players,” she added.

On Women and Child Development department she informed that the Aanganbadi workers were playing vital role in making the women of rural pockets self-reliant through self help groups (SHGs).

“The government is aware that development of human resources is must for overall development of the state and hence is providing better facilities to the Aanganbadi workers,” she said.

She informed the House that the Aanganbadi workers frequently organise women awareness camps and in future the local legislators would also be invited in such events so that they could give significant inputs to the workers regarding effective implementation of schemes meant for women and children.

She claimed that the recruitments of Aanganbadi workers were being done transparently. She, however, admitted that in some areas, the department received complaints pertaining to recruitments but appropriate action had been taken against the guilty people.

She further informed that the government aimed to bring down malnutrition rate to 30 percent by 2015. “The government has started Nawa Jatan Yojna under which the village panchayats which succeed in bringing malnutrition cases to zero get Rs one lakh cash award,” she said.

“Again, for the first time the government has given responsibility to SHGs to provide nutritious food to the children as women can take bet care of kids,” she said.

She claimed that the quality of the nutritious food too is almost at par and meet the set standards.

On Social Welfare department she said that the government aimed to connect the disabled people to the mainstream life through its various schemes. Besides, she said, the government had distributes pensions in different categories.

The legislators who participated in the debate were Ambika Markam, Pratima Chandrakar, Rajni Tripathi, Sumitra Markole, Dr Renu Jogi, Laxmi Baghel, Kumar Madan Sahu, Virendra Sahu, Doojram Boudh and Kheduram Sahu.

Now tendu leaf pluckers to get Rs 1100 per standard sack

House passes Rs 671.99 crore-budgetary demands for Forest department through voice vote

Raipur, March 26, 2012

The state government has increased the collection rate for tendu leaf pluckers by Rs 300 and now they will receive Rs 1100 per standard sack from this fiscal onwards. The announcement was done by Forest Minister Vikram Usendi while he was speaking during the debate over demand for budgetary grants for his department at Vidhan Sabha on Monday. The House passed the budgetary demands of Rs 671.99 crore for Forest department through voice vote.

Usendi informed the House that over 13.50 lakh families dwelling in the forests would get benefited by the hiked collection rate for tendu leaves.

Besides, the children of tendu leaf pluckers would get Rs 12000 scholarship to pursue their three-year graduation programme after passing class 12^th. Earlier, the scholarships were given only to the children pursuing professional courses at graduation and higher levels.

Usendi also announced that his department would recruit over 1000 forest guards in next four months. “Security of jungles and development of forest-dwellers is our prim objective,” he said.

“Every year, the forest-dwellers get about Rs 2000 crore through tendu leaf plucking and by doing other forest-related works,” he informed.

He further informed the House that under afforestation programme, his department had set a target of doing plantation in about 23000 hectare land and maintenance works in 1.60 lakh hectare forest lands. The department will also plant bamboos in 55000 hectare land.

Similarly, the government has made provision of Rs 6.20 crore in the budget for plantation at national highways and other roads under its Path Vriksharopan Yojna.

The minister announced to open three training centres under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) to impart training to the Forest employees. The training centres will be opened in Sarguja, Durg and Kanker forest circles.

The government has further made provision of Rs 95.50 crore in the budget for conservation and expansion state’s bio-diversity.

To check tuskers’ menace, Usendi informed that solar-powered fencing had been done on 200 kilometres of forest lands. For elephant reserve in Sarguja district, Rs 2.50 crore would be spent in 2012-13. He informed the House that the Centre had included Chhattisgarh in its Project Elephant scheme.

Govt to build one lakh houses for poor

Will also establish Chhattisgarh Trade Centre in about 100 acres of land in Naya Raipur

House passes Rs 614 crore-budgetary demands for Commerce & Industries, Housing & Environment and Transport departments through voice vote

Raipur, March 26, 2012

The government will construct about one lakh houses for poor living above poverty line (APL) under its ambitious scheme - Atal Vihar Yojna (AVY). “All the basic facilities including road, electricity, schools, hospitals, etc will be provided to the residents under AVY, an apparent indicator of government’s effective housing policy,” informed Commerce & Industries, Housing & Environment and Transport Minister Rajesh Munat while demanding budgetary grants for his departments at state Assembly on Monday. The House passed the budgetary demands of Rs 614 crore for these departments through voice vote.

Munat informed that the estimated cost of AVY housing project is about Rs 11800 crore. In budget, there is a provision of Rs 50 crore for this project. He informed that the APL families would also get Rs 40000 to Rs 80000 subsidy to buy AVY houses.

He claimed that his government had revolutionised the housing sector through Chhattisgarh Hosing Board (CHB). “The CHB has provided possession of 48000 new houses to its customers by far,” he informed.

On Naya Raipur project he said that the people from whom lands had been acquired for the project would be rehabilitated properly.

“The Naya Raipur will be organised and beautiful like Chandigarh, Gandhidham and Bhubaneshwar. The power and sewer lines will be underground. There will be a provision of railway station. For greenery, Environment department has planted about two lakh saplings there. Besides, 65 city buses will be plied from Raipur to Naya Raipur,” he added.

“Moreover, houses for state ministers will be constructed in Naya Raipur. First, houses for Chief Minister and Governor will be constructed for which there is a provision of Rs five crore in the budget 2012-13,” he said.

“The government will also provide night shelter facility to the homeless people in Naya Raipur. There will be 224 beds in the Rs eight crore-night shelter building. For this, there is a provision of Rs one crore in the budget 2012-13,” he said.

He said the government would also establish Chhattisgarh Trade Centre in about 100 acres of land in village Tuta in Naya Raipur. “In this centre, the government will organise Rajyotsav as well as industrial and trade fairs.

On environment, he said the BJP government had taken several measures to check pollution through regular monitoring and by ensuring installation of electro-static precipitators (ESPs) in industries. “As on 2005, there were 61 industries but only 30 had installed ESPs. Presently, all the industries have installed ESPs,” he said.

When BSP legislator Saurabh Singh pointed that despite installing ESP, many industries do not start it, the minister clarified that the ESPs had been directly connected to the meters to prevent any manipulation from industrial units.

He termed the proposed Railway corridor as the most significant project for Chhattisgarh’s development. “There will be massive development in the areas through which the corridor would be built,” he said.

On transport department, he informed that soon a smart card-based scheme would be started to issue computerised vehicle registration certificate and driving licence.

On Industries department, he said the government would encourage people from SC and ST communities to establish their own production units. “For this, there is a provision of Rs six crore in the budget which would be given to the beneficiaries as partial grant,” he added.

He informed the House that 126 industrial units had been established by the SC and ST people in 2011-12.

“Similarly, in past one year, 942 industries were established in the state and about 7500 people from the state were recruited in these units,” he said. The BJP legislator Bheema Mandavi interrupted him and pointed that despite promised by NMDC, the local were not being recruited. Another BJP MLA Dr Krishnamurthy Bandhi suggested Industries department should conduct campus recruitment in the state colleges to give maximum job opportunities to state youth.

The minister informed the House that considering concerns of opposition and common people regarding agricultural land deals by industrialists, the government had fixed land rates. “These rates are 12 time of the previous rates. Now the rate of barren land will be Rs six lakh, non-irrigated lands – Rs eight lakh and irrigated lands – Rs ten lakh,” he added.

He further informed that the project of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) had been commenced in Rajnandgaon. “Similarly, land acquisition procedures for proposed Metal Park will be started soon,” he said.

The MLAs who participated in the debate for demand for budgetary grants were Deepak Patel, Devji Bhai Patel, Saurabh Singh, Nandkumar Sahu, Virendra Kumar Sahu and Domanlal Korsewada.

Revenue department not working properly: Choubey

Raipur, March 24, 2012

Leader of opposition Ravindra Choubey on Saturday said that Revenue department was not working properly and consequently majority of the cases pertaining to it were not being redressed timely. Choubey was speaking in state Assembly against the budgetary demands for Revenue department, Land Revenue and District Administration, Rehabilitation and relief works in areas affected by natural calamities and drought on Friday.

He said the public redressal camps being organised by the Revenue department was of no use as farmers could not even get their loan books free. “The Revenue department is for public and if it is unable to redress the problems of the common people then there is no need to organise redressal camps,” he added.

“The government is rapidly allocating mines and lands to capitalists. About 2.5 lakh hectare land has been allocated to the capitalists by far during BJP regime. This is happening due to nexus between department’s officials and land mafias,” he alleged.

He sought answer from the government on no action on Videocon despite large tracts of land being taken by the company on the name of labourers. “How can a poor labourer working in MNREGA buy a land worth Rs five crore? The trend is prevalent in the entire state as the game of tribal land deals is being done in this fashion,” he said.

He alleged that the entire government machinery – from patwari to Collector to officials in Secretariat were involved in major land deals of tribals and farmers.

He expressed his concern over encroachments of government lands in rural pockets and suggested that campaigns should be launched to rid such lands and check such trends in future.

He sought increment in salaries of kotwars terming them key part of the department.

He sniffed major land scam in Durg district by one JK Laxmi plant and urged the Revenue Minister to register FIR against guilty officials involved in acquisition of lands. “The district administration has written a letter to the Secretariat and the Collector has categorically recommended for suspension of the guilty officials,” he said.

Congress MLA Dharmjeet Singh demanded for renewal of licences of those who had been allocated stone and murum mines. “These mines have been allocated to the financially weaker people but the department has not yet renewed their annual licence,” he said.

He pointed that several posts of patwaris were vacant and consequently the farmers face problem pertaining land-related works through the department.

 He urged the minister to revoke the 22-point rule being adopted in Bilaspur regarding land dealings. “This rule has become major tool for the land mafias. Te land ruled should be uniform in the state,” he said. BJP MLA Badridhar Diwan supported him and informed the House that large tracts of government lands had been sold by misusing the 22-point rule. “The names of many officials have surfaced in such land deals but the department has not taken any action by far,” he said asking the minister to cancel the rule immediately.

Dharmjeet Singh demanded from the minister to make law which could prevent outsiders to buy state lands. “The outsiders, especially industrialists are purchasing state lands at fast rate. Bemetara has become small Haryana. The minister should make law like Himachal Pradesh or other states where lands cannot be purchased by the outsiders,” he said.

He indicated that the flood victims of Raigarh had not received compensation by far.

The opposition member Dr Premsai Singh Tekam said the government constituted nine new districts in haste. 

“Many people are protesting the government decision. No suggestion was invited from political parties and public before formation of nine districts. In some districts, there is dispute over district headquarters. The government should have taken public inputs as to which district they want their region to be included in. At least, the government should have formed District Constitution Committee which could have considered all the aspects before finalising names and areas of the new districts,” he said.

He demanded from the minister to increase posts of tehsildars and SDMs for quick redressal of revenue cases. He further demanded for ban on purchase of benami tribal lands. He said Surajpur and Balrampur districts had become fake land patta hub and majority of such pattas had been obtained by big companies. He sniffed large racket behind this cult.

He alleged that the public hearing organised by government was done on gunpoint and cited examples of Raigarh, Korba and Janjgir-Champa pointed that voices of the farmers had been suppressed through under similar circumstances.

Congress MLA Agni Chandrakar felt that the less compensation was being provided to the farmers against damage of their crops due to floods or other natural calamities. “For this, the government should talk to Centre and take decision in favour of the farmers,” he said.

Govt create 650 new posts of patwaris

House passes Rs 813.51 crore-budgetary demands for Revenue department, Land Revenue and District Administration, Rehabilitation and relief works in areas affected by natural calamities and drought through voice vote

Raipur, March 24, 2012

The government has created 650 new posts of patwaris with an aim to quickly redress revenue cases. The announcement was done by Revenue Minister Dayaldas Baghel during provision of budgetary demands for his department on Friday. The House passed budgetary demands of Rs  813.51 crore for Revenue department, Land Revenue and District Administration, Rehabilitation and relief works in areas affected by natural calamities and drought through voice vote.

Baghel informed the House that the government had made provision of Rs 9.47 crore in budget for new posts of patwaris.

He further announced creation of 14 new posts of Revenue sub divisional offices (SDOs) in Devbhog, Abhanpur, Kurud, Lormi, Podhi-Uproda, Bilha, Konta, Champa, Dabhra, Wadrufnagar, Patharia, Masturi, Antagarh and Bodhla. “For this, the government has made provision of Rs 2.80 crore,” he informed.

He claimed that the land record works were being done transparently and informed the House that his department had sufficient fund to allocate for flood victims of Raigarh.

 He informed the House that the government had made provision of Rs 1.42 crore for basic facilities for 268 refugee families from Bangladesh living at Mana camp as well as for salaries and allowances for 25 government staff working there.

 He further informed the House that composite buildings at the cost of Rs 108 crore would be constructed in nine new districts. Besides, he informed that the government will also create 2645 new posts for these districts. 

Cong dharna against govt in nine districts today

Raipur, March 24, 2012

Congress will stage massive dharna against government in nine districts on Sunday. Protesting recent police action against tribals, controversies prevailed in PSC, PMT paper leak case, proposed power tariff hike, government’s reluctance to disburse Rs 270 paddy bonus and free electricity up to 5 HP pumps for irrigation to the farmers, the Congress will stage dharna programmes in Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Raigarh, Ambikapur, Janjgir-Champa, Mahasamund and Korba.

The AICC secretary and state unit incharge secretary Bhakt Charandas will arrive from New Delhi on Sunday morning to participate party’s dharna at Raipur. Senior party leader Ajit Jogi, Dhanendra Sahu, RMC mayor Kiranmayi Nayak and MLAs - Kuldeep Juneja, Rudra Kumar Guru and Chaitram Sahu will accompany Charandas at Raipur dharna.

The dharna at Bilaspur will be led by PCC president Nandkumar Patel and would be attended by legislators – Dr Renu Jogi, Dharmjeet Singh and Bilaspur Municipal Corporation mayor Vani Rao.

The dharna at Durg will be led by CLP leader Ravindra Choubey and would be attended by legislators – Pratima Chandrakar, Bhajan Singh Nirankari, Tamradhwaj Sahu, Badruddin Quraishi and Bhilai Municipal Corporation mayor Nirmala Yadav.

The dharna at Rajnandgaon will be attended by MLAs – Mohammad Akbar, Bholaram Sahu, Shivraj Singh Usare, Rajnandgaon Municipal Corporation mayor Naresh Dakalia, Uday Mudliyar, Dhanesh Patila and Satyanarayan Sharma.

The dharna at Raigarh will be attended by MLAs Dr Shakrajeet Nayak and Hriday Ram Rathiya along with Pradeep Choubey, Rampukar Singh, KK Gupta, Pushpa Devi Singh and Surendra Sharma.

The dharna at Ambikapur will be attended by MLAs – TS Singhdeo, Ramdev Ram and Amarjeet Bhagat along with Khelsai Singh and Chakradhari Singh.

The dharna at Janjgir-Champa will be attended by Parasram Bhardwaj, Ramadhar Kashyap, MLAs – Mahant Ramsundar Das and Rajkamal Singhania.

The dharna at Mahasamund will be attended by Pawan Diwan, Mahendra Bahadur Singh, MLAs – Amitesh Shukla, Haridas Bhardwaj, Paresh Bagbahra, Agni Chandrakar, Lekhram Sahu and Gurmukh Singh Hora.

The dharna at Korba will be attended by Dr Ramchandra Singhdeo, MLAs – Bodhram Kanwar and Ramdayal Uike.

House passes resolution of fourlane road on NH-43

Raipur, March 23, 2012

A non-governmental resolution to construct fourlane road on NH-43 (Raipur-Jagdalpur) road was passed unanimously passed in during budget session of Vidhan Sabha on Friday. Now, the government will send the proposal for the fourlane project to the Centre for approval.

The governmental resolution was tabled by BJP legislator Santosh Bafna who said that NH-43 was lifeline of Bastar division as the people largely depend on road transportation in the region. “From routine transportation to business and other activities are being done through this road and hence its upgradation into fourlane would make the travel comfortable,” he said.

He also pointed that NH-43 was the only road to link south India. “Whether it is Hyderabad, Vishakhapatnam, Vijaywada or other South Indian cities, the NH-43 links Chhattisgarh with the entire southern India,” he said.

He urged the House that since the resolution was meant for convenience of public, the House should pass it unanimously.

The Congress legislator Haridas Bhardwaj also supported resolution and said the Bastar division was geographically equal to Kerala state and hence it deserved upgradation of NH-43 into fourlane considering the traffic pressure on it.

He further sought amendment in the resolution and suggested that the Raipur-Jagdalpur fourlane road should contain concrete road from Kanker to Jagdalpur.

Supporting the resolution, the BJP legislator Devji Bhai Patel said the road networks bring development and construction of fourlane on NH-43 would surely pacify Bastar development.

Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Hemchand Yadav too felt too urged the House to pas the resolution unanimously on which the members from ruling and opposition parties gave their consent.

Raipur not to face drinking water crisis till 2040: Netam

Says students to get study loan at 4% interest

House passes Rs 2208.70 crore-budgetary demands for Water Resources, Ayacut, Higher Education, Technical Education and Manpower Planning departments through voice vote

Raipur, March 23, 2012 

The capital city will not face drinking water crisis till 2040 as the government has approved two anicuts on river Mahanadi for it. The information was imparted by Water Resources, Higher Education, Technical Education and Manpower Planning Minister Ramvichar Netam during provision of budgetary demands for his departments on Friday. The House passed budgetary demands of Rs 2208.70crore for these departments through voice vote.

Netam informed the House that the two anicuts on Mahanadi would be constructed on Tila and Ravar. “There is a provision of Rs 10 crore each for the two anicuts in the budget 2012-13,” he added.

He further informed the House that the government had also decided to provide study loans to the students at 4% percent rate of interest (ROI). “The loan would be provided to the students under Mukhyamantri Uchh Shiksha Byaj Anudan Yojna. Under this scheme, the remaining ROI charged by the particular banks will be incurred by the government,” he said.

He also informed the House that the irrigation crop area of the state had increased by five lakh hectare sine 2003. “To enhance the crop area, the government has also prepared a master plan for rivers,” he said.

He admitted that there were scarce teaching staffers in the many government colleges, especially in remote areas and ensured the House that soon all the vacant posts would be filled through PSC exams.

He said the allegation of opposition regarding sale of river water was not true as the government would sell only excess water to the industrialists. “The excess water usually flows to the sea and we will make use of it and generate over Rs 1000 crore in the form of taxes through selling it,” he said.

He said the government would attempt to launch maximum schemes in the scheduled areas and fund would not be constraint for it.

He said the state was going in right direction in terms of higher education as six government colleges and one grant-receiving college had been selected by the University Grant Commission (UGC) as excellent colleges.

In about one and a half hour of his address, Netam gave sops to almost all the members of the House by accepting their demands.

Cong demands irrigation projects for Bastar

Raipur, March 23, 2012

The firebrand tribal legislator from Congress Kawasi Lakhma has once again lashed the state government for ignoring Bastar and says that the region lacks major irrigation projects. Lakhma was speaking in state Assembly against the budgetary demands for Water Resources, Ayacut, Higher Education, Technical Education and Manpower Planning departments on Friday.

“We have rivers and canals but the government has not announced new irrigation projects for Bastar. River Indrawati is the lifeline of Bastar it was expected that the government would at least announce anicuts on this river to make optimum use of its water for irrigation purpose in the region,” he said.

He said that the government should make comprehensive project for River Indrawati. “Many parts of Bastar do not have potable water but the government has not taken any measure in this direction. Even the beauty of Chitrakot waterfall is diminishing due to scarce water,” he said.

He demanded from the government to make anicuts on river Errabore. He also expressed his concern over frequent power cuts in his legislative area.

On Higher Education he said 19 posts of teaching and non-teaching staff had been approved for Konta college but it had only two peons. “If the government cannot fill the vacant posts then it must close down the college. The government says it has made adequate provision for tribal students but with no teaching staff in the colleges, how they will pursue their higher education,” he asked.

Flaying the government for constituting nine new districts he said just the government’s job was not finished as purpose of new districts would only be solved when the development works would be carried out there at rapid pace.

Congress legislator Shivraj Singh Usare expressed said that the government should show generosity in its budget and make more provision for irrigation and higher education. “While 90 percent of the fund of the state budget comes from the Centre, the local ruling party only needed to utilise it properly,” he said.

He demanded five anicuts in his legislative area and quick completion of pending dam and reservoir projects (five each).

He further demanded to increase budget for Mogra barrage to be constructed in Rajnandgaon district terming it the largest project in the region and beneficial for farmers.

He indicated that there were three colleges in his constituency – one each in Mohla, Manpur and Chowki but only one principal. Besides, he said the colleges also lacked sufficient teaching staff. He urged the government to fill the vacant posts of principals and teachers in these colleges.

He demanded new government college in Aundhi terming it remotest part of his constituency and deprived of higher education facility.

Congress members Devendra Bahadur Singh pointed that despite increase in irrigation crop area, several regions had less or no irrigation facility. He named Pithora block of his region among least irrigated areas and demanded more facility to enhance crop area there. He also demanded construction of five anicuts in his region.

He further indicated that the two government colleges in Basna and Pithora lacked sports teacher despite his region having talented players of national level.

Congress MLA Pratima Chandrakar felt that the government needed to make effective use of Water Utility Committee. She also asked the government make technical studies effective.

She pointed that large number of posts of teaching staff was vacant in 172 government colleges of the state. She said the vacant posts should be filled quickly to ensure unhampered studies in the colleges.

Congress MLA Dharmjeet Singh asked the government to repair malfunctioning tubewells which had been dug in the scheduled areas to enhance irrigation crop area. He also demanded repairing of old rest house in his constituency and construction of new one in Pithora.