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Medha seeks probe into fake land registry

Photo: PTI

A taste of her ire: Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar along with Sardar Sarovar Dam Project oustees taking out a procession in Bhopal on Wednesday.

BHOPAL: Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar on Wednesday led a procession of villagers displaced by different Narmada Valley projects here and met the Madhya Pradesh Minister for Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA), Nagendra Singh, demanding protection of the fishermen’s rights in different reservoirs. She also sought a CBI inquiry into allegations of fake registry of land in the name of dam-affected people and wrongful payment of compensation for land acquisition in many cases.

The police had barricaded the NBA protestors’ original route, which was to touch the Chief Minister’s residence, and diverted it towards Lily Talkies.

There another barricade was erected by the police to prevent Ms. Patkar from moving further with her procession. After some commotion, use of force and a round of speeches, and expression of solidarity by AITUC leaders who were holding a huge rally across the road, Ms. Patkar went to meet the Minister at Narmada Bhavan along with a small delegation.

Responding to Ms. Patkar’s demands, particularly allegations of loopholes relating to resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) the Minister gave her the assurance that all complaints would be probed comprehensively and no one would be spared.

He also assured her that other complaints and demands would receive full attention and would be dealt with on priority.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan also took a firm stand and said stern action be taken against all those involved in the fake registry scam while speaking at the Commissioners and Collectors meeting earlier this week.

Contacted on Wednesday evening, Narmada Valley Development Authority Vice-Chairman Uday Kumar Verma said that for all registries of land linked with Narmada Valley projects, the District Collectors have been asked to verify each of them so that fraudulent registries are detected without delay. The Collectors have been instructed to carry out mutation in land records in favour of people who have bought land (under the cash for land scheme), he added.

He said about half a dozen officers and junior employees from Badwani, Khargone and Manawar have been suspended. These are Surendra Kori, Deputy Registrar, Khargone District; Ganpati Ratna Parkhi, Clerk, and Mohan Singh Baghel, Record Keeper, at the Khargone Registrar’s office; Narendra Chaudhary, Revenue Inspector, and Dilip Babulal Kalal, a daily wage employee, at Badwani’s land acquisition office; besides two Patwaris from Manawar.

Inquiries further revealed that the NVDA Vice-Chairman had written to the Collectors of Dhar, Khargone, Badwani and Jhabua in the last week of September bringing to their notice allegations of fake registry of land in the name of the Narmada oustees by some unscrupulous middlemen by promising that the fake registries would help them receive full payment of monetary compensation. The Collectors have been given a complete check list and asked to remain vigilant about such cases.

It was officially stated here on Wednesday evening that 150 FIRs have been lodged and 24 persons allegedly involved in the fake registry of land have been arrested.

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Medha seeks probe into fake land registry

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