GMR's proposed rail line construction hits hurdle

The GMR’s proposed rail-line to transport coal to its under-construction power plant in Tilda near here had landed into controversy.

The state-run Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) is acquiring land for laying rail-line between Tilda and Raikheda—about 20 km. The matter came up for a heated debate in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Friday with a senior member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading the front.

“The CSIDC was acquiring land for GMR Chhattisgarh Energy Limited that was a gross violation of norms as no government agency could acquire land for a private party,” BJP Legislator Devji Patel said while raising the issue during Question Hour.

 

GMR Chhattisgarh Energy Limited (a subsidiary of GMR Group) is setting up a 1370-Mw thermal power plant in Tilda—about 40 km from here. Since the company could not get coal block and linkage, it would probably transport coal from outside to meet demand of raw material. For this, the rail line was required.

The state government however clarified that the land acquisition and proposed rail line was part of an extensive project in the area. “We are coming up with a mega industrial area in Raikheda and for that purpose a rail line is required,” minister for revenue Dayaldas Baghel said. He said the land had not been handed over to the GMR for the rail line.

Patel contended the government despite being ruling party member and charged that CSIDC had contempt the court order that had said that the government cannot acquire land for the industry. “There is no such plan of industrial area in Raikheda and only GMR’s power plant is coming up in the pocket,” Patel said, adding that the CSIDC was directly helping the company by putting all the norms at bay.

He charged that the GMR even started the construction work on rail line that the villagers had recently stopped. Baghel announced in the House that the government would conduct a probe if the company had started work on the rail line project.

Putting the CSIDC under the scanner, Patel said the corporation misguided the government on the issue. “If the CSIDC was building the rail line, there was no objection. But it is handing over the land to GMR for the project that was objectionable,” he added.

The BJP legislator who was backed by senior Congress legislator and former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi demanded that the land acquired by the government should be cancelled. “The constituency is mine and I will not allow GMR to complete the rail line project at any cost,” he fumed inside the House.

The company refused to comment on the development.