Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has directed the concerned officials to ensure payment of pending compensation to farmers.

Farmer Ghasiyaram, a resident of Pandarahi village, made complaint to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel during his ‘Bhent Mulaqat’ programme at Kodagaon village in Kanker district on Sunday.

The farmer informed the Chief Minister that in 2004, farmers’ land was taken for the construction of a reservoir and its compensation was fixed. The scheme in which this compensation was to be received has now been discontinued. As a result, compensation could not be received. The Chief Minister suggested the farmer that the State government could provide another land in lieu of the land which was taken. The farmers said that it would be better if they get monetary compensation instead. On this, the Chief Minister instructed the officers to make compensation case immediately and check it according to the rules and provide benefits to the farmers.

The Chief Minister also directed to make a medical certificate of a handicapped child and also provided a financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh during the Janchaupal. He had lunch at the home of a village farmer Girwar Sahu. Here he was served Lokti, a dish made from Madhuras.

Baghel also made various announcements including construction of boundrywall at Primary School Kodagaon, construction of road from Kodagaon to Pandaripani, installation of new transformer at Kodagaon, flooring of sports ground at Kodagaon, construction of anicut over Chinhar river at Ghaneli Kanhar and deepening work of Gundahar dam at Kodagaon.

The Chief Minister suggested that under MNREGA, farm leveling should be done and Kodo-Kutki farming can be done on the land. He also suggested the farmers to cultivate Kodo-Kutki-Ragi etc. in these fields due to the huge demand for these crops in the market and the Government is also encouraging these crops with value addition and processing.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the beautification work of 12 Devgudis at Kodagaon at a cost of Rs 66 lakh and also performed bhoomipujan, renovation and beautification works of 22 Devgudis at a cost of Rs 1.43 crore.

Deputy Speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Manoj Mandavi, Women and Child Development Minister Anila Bhendia, Parliamentary Secretary Shishupal Shori, Antagarh MLA Anoop

Nag, Advisor to Chief Minister Rajesh Tiwari and other public representatives were present.

Later, Baghel participated in Adivasi Sammelan. He met the delegations of various social organisations. He took a night halt in Kanker on Sunday night. Baghel will return to Raipur on Monday.