State govt goes into damage control mode

Mumbai: The ruling BJP government is now making efforts to salvage the situation after farmer Dharma Patil consumed poison and died Sunday night at Mantralaya.

Energy minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule on Monday said that an inquiry would be conducted into why Mr Patil’s neighbour received greater compensation for his land. Mr Bavankule  assured that the government would give all compensation to Mr Patil’s family with interest.

However, he refused to talk about tourism minister Jaikumar Rawal’s alleged land purchase in the same village at meagre cost. Mr Rawal allegedly purchased land when the land acquisition process was started by the government.

Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur, Mr Bavankule said that the government will have a detailed report about the inquiry on Tuesday. “The land acquisition process for 199 ha was started in 2009 and completed in 2015. The farmers were allowed to go to court if they did not agree with the process. Mr Patil accepted the compensation at the time but later complained about it. We have sought a detailed report on the matter and it is expected by Tuesday,” Mr Bavankule said. The land was acquired for the state energy department to set up a power plant; the state energy department is now helmed by Mr Bavankule.

The government will recheck the 199 ha of land and prepare the report.