Noisy scenes in assembly over MOUs for investments

Raipur, Mar 9 (UNI) Amid noisy scenes, the Chhattisgarh Assembly was today adjourned for 10 minutes, as opposition Congress members raised slogans demanding to make public the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) for attracting investments in power generation and steel sectors in the state.

Raising the issue during Zero hour, Mohammad Akbar (Congress) demanded a debate on opposition notice for adjournment motion alleging that there was a conspiracy to siphon off the state's natural and mineral resources.

He alleged that the MOUs, which the state government had signed with Tata Steel and Essar Steel for setting up power plants and Texas Power Corporation for power generation, were being kept secret.

''The legislators are being kept in dark about these MOUs, as some of its provisions are detrimental to the interests of state,'' he said.

Opposition members felt that as per the MOU with Texas Power Corporation, the state would not get even a single unit of power.

As Speaker Prem Prakash Pandey said it was not a subject for adjournment motion, Congress members were on their feet saying that it was an issue pertaining to the state's development by utilising its natural resources.

Mr Bhupesh Baghel, Mr Dharamjit Singh, Mr Satya Narian Sharma (all Congress) and other members pressed for a debate, raising slogans demanding cancellation of MOU with Texas Power Corporation.

As noisy scenes continued, the Speaker adjourned the house for 10 minutes. Later, the house re-assembled and took up the remaining business.

UNI JJ PS VD DS1648