CM distributes compensation amount of Rs 22.78 cr

Central Chronicle News
Raipur, Jul 23: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today distributed cheques amounting to Rs 22.78 crore as compensation against land acquisition to 314 farmers of Chandrapur area in Janjgir-Champa district affected by Kalma barrage. This virtual program of compensation distribution was organized at the residence office of Chief Minister today, wherein Water Resources Minister Ravindra Choubey, School Education Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam, Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Subrat Sahoo were present. Assembly Speaker Dr. Charandas Mahant, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jaisingh Agarwal, Parliamentary Secretary Vinod Seven Lal Chandrakar, MLA Ramkumar Yadav and other public representatives participated in this program through video conferencing.
In his address to the programme, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that Kalma barrage has been constructed on River Mahanadi between village Kalma in Janjgir-Champa district and village Bargaon in Raigarh district, at the cost of Rs 377.42 crore. Construction of this barrage started in February 2011 and was completed in March 2016, but the process affected 97.89 hectares of land belonging to 682 farmers of 13 villages in Janjgir-Champa district.
Baghel appreciated district administration and Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr. Charandas Mahant, Water Resources Minister Mr. Ravindra Choubey, MLA Ramkumar Yadav for the efforts to resolve the long-pending case of compensation for 314 farmers. Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that it is Chhattisgarh Government’s priority to ensure betterment of farmers and to address their issues, and the entire team of Chhattisgarh government is consistently making efforts in this direction. On the occasion, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Dr. Charandas Mahant thanked Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel for resolving the pending land acquisition cases and disbursing the compensation amount to affected farmers.
He said that this issue of land acquisition was pending for years, which has now been resolved by Chhattisgarh government. Farmers are delighted to have received the compensation amount today. Water Resources Minister Mr. Ravindra Choubey said that as per Chief Minister’s instructions to supply water from this barrage to the farmers for irrigation, Water Resources Department has proposed mega lift irrigation project on both the banks of Kalma barrage. Implementation of this project would enable water-supply to the farmers in more than 15 thousand hectares for irrigation. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jaisingh Agrawal and other public representatives also addressed the program. On this occasion, Ramavatar Agrawal, Sharad Agarwal, Motilal and other local public representatives, farmers and villagers were present.