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Title: Regarding non-implementation of agreement on absorbance of land-looser in Mejia Thermal Power Station in West Bengal.
SHRI SUNIL KHAN (DURGAPUR): Thank you Sir. It is very unfortunate that I have been giving notices for the last three days and this evening I have got this chance to speak. I dropped the notice at about 0830 hours, but did not get a chance. I do not know, this way how a Member can raise the matter in the House.
Sir, the fact is that an agreement was signed between the DVC and the Government of West Bengal when MTPS, Mejia Thermal Power Station, acquired the land in my district Bankura in West Bengal in the year 1987. It was decided that three units will be launched. At that time, the agreement was that 520 land losers, who have lost 80 per cent of their land, will get the chance.[r89]
Three units have already been commissioned; four units have already been commissioned. Fifth and sixth units are going to be commissioned. In spite of that, out of 520 land-losers, still 240 land losers have not got the chance to get jobs there. So, there is failure of agreement on the part of the DVC’s Mejia Thermal Power Station. So, I would like to again request. It is because I have already raised this issue not only in the 14th Lok Sabha but also in the 12th and 13th Lok Sabhas. So, I would again remind. The Power Minister is not here. I would convey my message to him through the Parliamentary Affairs Minister that the power sector, the DVC, is not recognising the agreement of the State of West Bengal. In between the State Government and the Central Government, they have already an agreement. But still 240 land losers are not getting chances. They have lost their lands.
It is not only that. There is perennial nature of work; some contractors are there. What I would request to the Management is that when you give the work to the contractors, please tell the contractors – there is a list of land-losers in the MTPS, in the BDO office, and also in the DM office – to see the land-losers first, and then the members will get a chance there; not from outside. It is not happening there.
I would again like to convey my message through our Parliamentary Affairs Minister to the Power Minister of the Union Government that he may please see as to how the people will be engaged there. It is because at that time there were only three units. Now sixth unit is going to be commissioned –there are seventh and eights units also – in the Month of July. The Minister was present there at the time of laying of the foundation stone. I was also present. A reminder was given to the Power Minister. Still it is not happening. So, I would again request to the hon. Minister that it should be done.
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI B.K. HANDIQUE): I will bring it to the notice of the hon. Power Minister.