Ranchi, March 13 Legislators raised allegations of corruption in land mutation and engaged in heated debate over the LPG crisis during the Jharkhand Assembly's budget session on Friday, leading to a verbal clash between the treasury and opposition benches.
Members from both the ruling alliance and the opposition traded accusations, accusing officials of irregularities in land-related services.
During the Question Hour, Congress MLA Rajesh Kachhap said that although the online land mutation system was introduced in 2022, the government had not clarified the provisions for people whose mutation formalities were pending before the system was launched.
Leader of the Opposition, Babulal Marandi, supported this issue and claimed that the online mutation system was not functioning properly, even for "Khatiyani" (ancestral or settlement) land.
Marandi alleged that bribes of up to Rs 50,000 were being demanded to process mutation applications.
"When a friend of the aggrieved 'Raiyat' (landholder) contacted the deputy commissioner, the official assured that the mutation would be processed, but the application was rejected two days later," he claimed.
Marandi said the landholder later managed to get the mutation done "through other means".
Kachhap also alleged that bribes of around Rs 2,000 per decimal were being sought for the issuance of land revenue receipts, and that officials were often unavailable at administrative offices.
BJP MLA Naveen Jaiswal suggested that special camps be organised to address such complaints and ensure transparency in the process.
Responding to the allegations, Minister Deepak Birua said that alleged irregularities related to land mutation and revenue receipts would be addressed transparently, and appropriate action would be taken upon receipt of written complaints.
The House also witnessed heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches over "rising" petroleum prices and the LPG crisis.
Members of the ruling alliance blamed the policies of the BJP-led central government for the situation, while the opposition accused the Congress of trying to create panic over the issue.
Congress minister Shilpa Neha Tirkey said that petroleum pricing was controlled by the Centre, and it was unfair to blame the party.
Legislators of the ruling coalition of the JMM, Congress, and RJD also staged a demonstration outside the Jharkhand assembly on Friday to protest against the LPG cylinder crisis.
Holding banners and posters, the MLAs raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government for the alleged shortage of cooking gas in the wake of the West Asia conflict.