Chhattisgarh: Congress Walks Out Of Assembly Over Bharatmala Corruption, Demands CBI Probe

The opposition Congress party criticized the ruling government in the state assembly regarding alleged corruption in land acquisition for the Modi government's Bharatmala road project during the question hour in the Chhattisgarh Assembly on Monday.

Dissatisfied with Minister Tankram Verma's responses, Congress legislators disrupted proceedings, demanding a CBI probe into irregularities in compensation distribution. When their demand was not met, they staged a walkout.

Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant raised the issue during Question Hour, citing government acknowledgment of irregularities in compensation for land acquired in Raipur district for the project, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 43.19 crore to the exchequer. Mahanta claimed over Rs 350 crore had been misused under the Bharatmala project, adding that while some officials were suspended, a CBI investigation was necessary for transparency.

Minister Verma stated that land acquisition notifications for the Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor, under the Bharatmala project, were issued in January 2020, with the contract awarded on March 18, 2021. He acknowledged complaints of compensation irregularities received in August 2022 prompted an inquiry by the Raipur District Magistrate.

Verma admitted to irregularities such as land division after notification, acquisition of previously acquired land, and misallocation of compensation. He cited the inquiry report stating compensation was distributed by dividing 13 original Khasras in Nayakbandha village into 53 small plots, with the government suffering financial losses due to fraudulent land sale inclusions after the preliminary notification. As a result, the government suspended several officials including the then Naib Tehsildar, Patwaris, the then Sub-Divisional Officer, and the then Tehsildar.

Mahanta responded, "Since the minister is acknowledging irregularities, we demand an FIR be lodged against the guilty officials and a CBI inquiry be ordered."