Opposition Walks Out of Chhattisgarh Assembly Over Land Allotment and School Merger Rows
Raipur
The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly witnessed heated exchanges and a walkout by the opposition Congress on Wednesday. The disruptions followed government responses regarding industrial land allotment at low rates, alleged irregularities in the Scout Guide Jamboree, and the rationalisation of schools.
Controversy Over Jamboree Tenders
Congress MLA Raghavendra Singh raised allegations of financial irregularities in the Jamboree programme held in Balod. He questioned School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav on how work commenced before the formal tender process was completed. Singh noted that while the tender was opened on 4 January 2026, the project was reportedly finished within four days.
In response, Minister Yadav stated that the primary arrangements were handled by the national headquarters, while the state’s responsibilities began after 10 December. Dissatisfied with the reply and the Minister’s use of poetry to address the query, Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant led a walkout, accusing the government of misleading the House.
Industrial Land Allotment Questioned
The House also saw an uproar over the allotment of 253 acres (approximately 102 hectares) of government land in Mahasamund district to M/s Godawari Power and Ispat Limited. MLA Chaturi Nand and MLA Dwarkadhish Yadav questioned why the land was leased for 99 years at a rate of ₹4.82 lakh per hectare.
Industries Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan clarified the details of the transaction:
- Total Annual Payment: The premium calculation amounts to approximately ₹4.77 crore.
- Annual Lease Rent: The company is required to pay ₹28.64 lakh annually.
- Purpose: The allotment supports the state’s policy to promote renewable energy through solar power projects.
The Minister maintained that the allotment followed all procedural norms, including NOCs from the Collector and approvals from the Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC).
School Rationalisation and Guest Teachers
During Question Hour, MLA Sunil Soni raised concerns regarding the “rationalisation” or merger of 10,538 schools. Minister Yadav informed the House that 10,372 schools have been merged into single campuses. He added that the 166 vacant buildings would be repurposed for smart classes and laboratories in the upcoming session.
Responding to MLA Vikram Mandavi on the regularisation of guest teachers, the Minister stated there is currently no such plan. He clarified that while guest teachers receive a fixed monthly payment of ₹20,000 based on attendance, the government is focusing on the recruitment of regular teachers.
Surrendered Naxals Observe Proceedings
In a notable development, 140 surrendered Naxals, including 54 women and 86 men, visited the Vidhan Sabha today to observe the parliamentary proceedings from the visitors’ gallery.
