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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Illegal sand mining rampant in CG under patronage of cops, mining officials: LoP
Raipur: The Opposition on Tuesday raised the hot-button issue of illegal sand mining in the Assembly during Zero Hour. Leader of Opposition, Dr Charandas Mahant, said that illegal sand mining was rampant across the state, allegedly under the patronage of police and mining officials. He cited instances of firing at mining sites and people being run over by trucks, demanding an immediate discussion on the matter. However, Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh rejected the admissibility of a discussion on the issue, leading to a walkout by the Opposition. MLA Devendra Yadav pointed out that even journalists were not safe, alleging widespread collusion in illegal sand mining operations and calling for a discussion. Baghel cited incidents of violence, including shootings, in the Speaker's own district, underscoring the importance of a discussion. Speaker Dr Raman Singh informed the House that the notice for adjournment was received on Tuesday and subsequently rejected the admissibility of a discussion. Following this, the Opposition staged a walkout from Assembly.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Fertiliser crisis: Ruckus in House, 23 Oppn MLAs suspended & reinstated
Raipur: Opposition Congress MLAs on Monday protested in the Chhattisgarh Assembly over the shortage of fertilisers and seeds in the state. The issue was raised by Leader of Opposition Dr Charandas Mahant, who moved an adjournment motion during the Zero Hour of the monsoon session. Agriculture minister Ramvichar Netam responded to the concerns, after which Speaker Dr Raman Singh disallowed the motion. This led to protests and slogan-shouting by Congress MLAs in the well, prompting a brief adjournment of the House. Subsequently, 23 MLAs were suspended for entering the well, but were later reinstated. Presenting the adjournment notice, Dr Charandas Mahant said that Chhattisgarh has 40.10 lakh farmers, including 80% small and marginal farmers. The state primarily cultivates Kharif paddy. Unfortunately, farmers are currently facing a severe shortage of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser. He alleged that the state govt has failed to ensure an adequate supply of fertilisers and has advised farmers to use alternative chemical options, which has increased cultivation costs. Dr Mahant claimed that an artificial scarcity of fertilisers has persisted in the state for the past two years, attributing it to the government's lack of will and indifferent attitude towards farmers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Lifetime Office 365 Download Undo For Kharif 2025, the government set a supply target of 3.10 Metric tonnes, which was 30,000 tonnes less than the target for Kharif 2024. So far, only 1.1 lakh tonnes of DAP have been supplied. Similarly, while 7.12 lakh tonnes of urea were to be supplied this Kharif season, only 3.59 lakh tonnes have been distributed. The estimated demand for paddy seeds was 4,32,159 quintals, while cooperative societies in Chhattisgarh had only 3,83,169 quintals in storage, Mahant informed the Assembly. He further said that despite the presence of a double-engine government, farmers are being forced to abandon farming and protest on roads at the state, district, and block levels due to the fertiliser crisis. Farmers allege that government cooperative societies lack fertilisers, while black marketing is rampant in the open market, compelling them to purchase DAP at inflated prices. He added that the alternative fertilisers advised due to the DAP shortage in primary cooperative societies are more expensive and of inferior quality compared to last year, imposing a double burden on farmers. Dr Mahant emphasized that this is not the first time the state has faced a fertiliser shortage, noting similar conditions prevailed last year as well. He demanded an immediate discussion on the issue through an adjournment motion to address farmers' distress. Patan MLA and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel supported the motion, adding that farmers in Chhattisgarh are suffering due to the ongoing fertiliser crisis. In response, Agriculture minister Ramvichar Netam said that the govt is raising awareness among farmers about the balanced use of fertilisers and is providing training on alternatives. He acknowledged that the supply of phosphatic fertilisers was affected, prompting early alternative arrangements. Nano fertilisers have been recommended and stored in large quantities, he added. The minister cited global factors as the reason for the disrupted supply of chemical fertilisers. He said fertiliser stocks, including potash and other types, have exceeded targets, and sowing has been completed in over 28 lakh hectares, surpassing previous records. Following the minister's statement, speaker Dr Raman Singh disallowed the opposition's motion.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Chhattisgarh assembly monsoon session begins today; congress gears up to corner BJP govt
RAIPUR: A 5-day monsoon session of the Chhattisgarh Assembly begins on Monday and is likely to be stormy as the opposition Congress has geared up to launch an onslaught on the ruling BJP government led by Vishnu Deo Sai. Around 1000 questions have been listed for the Question Hour in the upcoming session. According to official sources, the BJP government is likely to introduce some key bills besides a supplementary budget during the session. The leader of the opposition, Charandas Mahant, who chaired a meeting of his party MLAs ahead of the session at Rajiv Bhawan, conveyed that every important issue related to public interest should be raised with an aggressive stance to corner the government. The Congress legislators have been instructed to attend the monsoon session with their full preparation, supported with facts and reasoning on various key issues that are to come up for discussions in the House.
