Congress Alleges Irregularities in Singrauli Land Acquisition

The Congress has alleged irregularities in the land acquisition process for the Adani coal block in Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh and has asked for a joint parliamentary panel to investigate. The party has claimed that the acquisition lacked transparency and that affected residents were not adequately consulted. It urged both state and central authorities to initiate a comprehensive probe into the matter. The party demanded that relevant records be placed in the public domain to ensure accountability.

Party sources said the request for a joint panel aims to examine the circumstances of the land transfers and to scrutinise compensation arrangements and statutory clearances. They asked that officials who oversaw the acquisition be called before the panel to explain record keeping and decision making. The move was described as necessary to ascertain whether due process was followed at each stage. Observers noted that such a panel could compel the production of documents from government departments and private parties.

The Congress also sought clarification on the role of local administration and on any environmental or rehabilitation measures that were taken for displaced families. It pressed for independent verification of claims made during the acquisition process and for an assessment of whether statutory safeguards were observed. The party stated that transparent investigations are essential to maintain public confidence in large infrastructure projects. It emphasised that remedial action should follow if irregularities are established.

State officials were yet to provide a detailed response to the demand for a joint panel, and central agencies had not announced any probe at the time of reporting. Political observers said the matter was likely to feature in forthcoming debates and could prompt further scrutiny of land acquisition norms. The Congress indicated it would pursue the issue through parliamentary channels while seeking wider public disclosure. Stakeholders called for an expedient but thorough inquiry to resolve lingering concerns.

Related Stories