New Delhi: Several issues ranging from
suicides by large number of farmers in Madhya Pradesh and
incidence of Congo fever in parts of Gujarat to demand a hike
in the MPLAD funds for members, were raised in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Claiming that about 7,000 farmers have committed suicide
in the recent past, Congress member Sajjan Singh Verma said a
large number of such cases have been reported from Madhya
Pradesh.
He alleged that only recently two farmers from the
constituency of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have
committed suicide as farmers have been hard hit by failure of
crops recently.
Jaishreeben Patel (BJP) sought steps by the Centre to
check the spread of the deadly Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic
Fever which has claimed at least four lives so far in Gujarat.
The fever, transmitted through cattle, had also affected
nurses treating those affected, she said and urged the Centre
to create an experimentation laboratory in the state.
Demanding increase in the amount given to each MP under
the MPLAD scheme, Ravindra Pande (BJP) said Rs two crore given
at present was meagre for carrying out substantial development
work.
He was supported by some Opposition members who wanted
that either there should be an increase in the amount or the
scheme should be totally scrapped.
S Semmalai (AIADMK) demanded that the legal heirs of those
displaced by the expansion of the Salem Steel Plant should be
compensated through recruitment and appointments in the plant.
He said large tracts of land had been acquired for the
plant and a large number of families were displaced due to the
project. "Preference in training, recruitment or appointments
should be given to their legal heirs", Semmalai said.
Kaushalendra Kumar (JD-U) wanted the Centre to include 1.5
crore people in Bihar declared Below Poverty Line under the
public distribution system so that they get good quality and
adequate foodgrains.
Arjun Charan Sethi (BJD) wanted the Union Shipping
Ministry to withdraw a notification which extended the
jurisdiction of the Kolkata Port Trust in an "unprecedented
and uncalled for manner".
He said the extension of the Port Trust`s jurisdiction
was taken without consulting the Orissa government. "The
decision goes against the autonomy of states and will also
harm Orissa`s interests", he said.
PTI
