The state government found itself in a quandary in the assembly over alleged irregularities in leasing out of land to industries as the Opposition created a ruckus on the matter, accusing the government of land grabbing from innocent people.
The Opposition also attacked the government for considerable shrinkage in cultivable area in the state in the past five years owing to increasing diversion of land for non-farm activities.
Area under cultivation in the state has dipped by 117,000 hectares during 2005-10 as land put to non-agricultural use rose by 299,000 hectares in the same period, according to the latest report (civil) of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for the year ended March 31, 2011.Opposition Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan said, “The government has handed over 50276.88 acres of land including 33355.12 acres of acquired private land to 107 companies for setting up of industries in 16 districts.”
He took swipe at the government for misusing emergency provisions under Land Acquisition Act-1894 to acquire land for six industrial promoters.
"This government is exploiting innocent land owners and virtually grabbing land from them at the behest of industries”, he alleged.
"The CAG also states the then Kalahandi collector had issued an order to bar sale of land in 18 villages under Kalahandi district. The order was meant to facilitate land acquisition for Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL). The question arises as to how can the government issue such a ban. This is illegal and unconstitutional”, Harichandan said.