CM: 5-member panel to probe Chhattisgarh coal allocation

TEAM HERALD

PANJIM: Even as Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar refused to accept the Chhattisgarh coal allocation as a scam, he announced that the government will form a five-member committee on Thursday to investigate the alleged irregularities.

“We are on the verge of getting 240 MW power… I don’t accept this as a scam. There are different types of irregularities,” he said on the floor of the House on Wednesday, but admitted that “There were lacunae in the selection process.”

During the reply on demands for grants on Industries, Trade and Commerce, Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte alleged that the coal block was a scam and demanded House committee inquiry with him as one of its members.

Parrikar however shot back asking the MLA to specify the irregularity in the allocation. “If he wants vigilance inquiry, submit the allegation in writing. Let him specify the irregularity,” he said. The chief minister later asked the legislators to ‘remind him tomorrow (Thursday) morning’ about forming the committee. 

The issue about the agreement with the private parties by then State government vis-à-vis coal block allocation at Chhattisgarh was raised during the ongoing monsoon session of the legislative assembly on July 25 wherein Parrikar had conceded there are certain grey areas in the entire deal involving a private party and Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC).  

“I will ask vigilance department to go into the parameters of this deal. There are some grey areas. I had raised this issue in 2008. If there is something substantial found, I will act,” Parrikar had said replying to a starred question tabled by Khaunte.

In the same breath, he commented that if he gets into small things, procedural errors will surface, which he was aware of. “There is a lot of investment carried out. Many wrong things have happened in the past. But If I correct it now after investing Rs 600 to 1000 crore, we will suffer because we won’t get power,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Industries Minister Mahadev Naik said that they have received 43 proposals to set major industrial projects in the State, for which government needs 8 lakh sq mtrs land. He also told the House that government is serious about creating 50,000 jobs through Rs 25,000 crore investments in five years.