Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code (amendment) bill 2017 was passed by the state Assembly today amid an uproar by the main opposition Congress.
Tabling the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the House, Revenue Minister Premprakash Pandey said it has become necessary to bring amendment in section 165 of theChhattisgarhLandRevenue Code, 1959.
"If the land acquisition process is simplified, it would eliminate hindrances in the path development and the fast development would take place in the state," he said.
The minister further added that the intentions of the state government are very clear that the amendment is being sought not for misusing the land owned by tribals.
He also assured the House that land acquired from tribals will not be misused.
The opposition, led by Congress Legislative Party Leader TS Singhdeo,vehemently opposed the Amendment Bill.
The opposition members said the land holdings of tribals are secured only due to the stringent laws enacted for the protection of tribal land, and therefore, no amendment should be brought in the Land Revenue Code.
In scheduled areas, tribal people can sell their land with the permission from Collectors.
Hence, in the name of development, the state government can easily acquire the required land under a consensus arrangement.
The intention of government towards bringing this Amendment Bill is not clear, Congress legislators said.
Objecting to the amendments being made in the Bill, Congress Legislative Party Leader TS Singhdeodemanded division of votes, which led to voting for the passage of the Bill.
However, the Amendment Bill received 43 votes in favour and 31 votes in opposition, which led to its passage.
Subsequently, Congress members staged a walkout from the House raising slogans against the government.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)