After Punjab, Chahattisgarh to pass law to counter Centre's Farm laws

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh state cabinet meeting has given nod to the draft of the Agriculture Produce Market (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which is to be tabled in a special session of the state assembly on Tuesday, officials said.

The ruling Congress had earlier said it will bring a legislation in the special session of the assembly to protect the interests of farmers from the three newly enacted Central farm laws.

State agriculture minister Ravindra Choubey said that due to some (central) laws, there was a chance that farmers might get exploited and a possible influence on paddy procurement in the state as well.

"In view of this, the cabinet approved the draft of Chhattisgarh Krishi Upaj Mandi (Agricultural Produce Market) (Amendment) Bill 2020 which will be tabled on Tuesday in the assembly. It has provisions to protect our farmers," he said.

He said that the law planned by the state was meant to protect farmers and not to clash with the Centre on the issue.

An official said the cabinet also decided to scrap tenders and expression of interest (EOIs) related to the Centre's Jal Jeevan Mission works which aim to provide drinking water through taps to every rural home by 2024.

On October 23, chief minister Baghel constituted a three-member committee under the chief secretary to examine complaints related to Jal Jeevan Mission works in the state.

On October 20, Punjab became the first state in the country to pass three agriculture sector legislations to negate the Union laws.

The Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill 2020, passed by the Amarinder Singh government, provides that no sale or purchase is done below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and violation of the same shall invite imprisonment of three years besides fine.