The Chhattisgarh Assembly on Thursday passed the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code (Amendment) bill which would facilitate the government to acquire tribal land for various development schemes.
The bill, presented by Revenue Minister Prem Prakash Pandey, was opposed by Opposition members during discussions in the House.
After tabling the bill, the minister said that the amendment in the previous Act will ease the process of land acquisition in the tribal areas for various welfare schemes. Congress member Mohan Markam while opposing the amendment said that the fifth schedule in the tribal area protects the interests of tribals but the new amendment would create distress.
The tribals provided their land for Lohandiguda and Nagarnar projects but unfortunately they have not received any benefit, he said.
Opposing the bill, Leader of Opposition T.S. Singhdeo and legislator Bhupesh Baghel demanded to send the amendment bill to a Select Committee.
Leader of Opposition T.S. Singhdeo said the earlier Act protected the rights of tribals and the amendment would not be in the interest of tribals as the government would get an open right to sell out the tribal land to private industrialists.