Bhopal, Mar 3: The State government today informed the Assembly that a high-level committee was formed for inquiry into leasing of about 3,200 hectares of forestland, in Harda district, for 99 years to the Radhasoami Trust. The committee would submit its report by June 30. Rajesh Patel (Congress) raised the matter during question hour and was told by Forests Minister Vijay Shah that the allotment was made more than five decades back when this state was yet to be formed.

''The committee would probe into whether tribal rights were being violated by the allotment and whether lease rules and Forest Act were being followed,'' the Minister explained.

Demanding that the lease be annulled, Patel alleged that the Trust encroached on 50,000 ha of surrounding forestland in Harda's Timarni tehsil. Meanwhile, several members demanded that the matter be probed by a House Committee.

Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party member Manohar Lal Rathor placed a question mark on the Trust's working style and supported the house committee-related demand. Speaker Ishwardas Rohani urged the committee to hear both Patel and Rathor.

Scheme for drought-hit Bundelkhand

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Mar 3: Madhya Pradesh Public Health Engineering Minister Chaudhry Chandrabhan Singh today informed the Assembly that a Rs 1,327-crore scheme, for drought-affected Bundelkhand region, was forwarded to the Centre.

Replying to Congress member Brijendra Singh Rathor's supplementaries, the Minister said, ''if the scheme is ayed then Bundelkhand's potable water crisis can be better tackled. Besides, the state government is utilising its resources to arrive at a solution.''

On opposition members' demand, Speaker Ishwardas Rohani said that the regime should arrange for transporting potable water to affected areas if necessary.