Patna: Compensation denied to fishermen and farmers affected by last year's floods was raised in the Legislative Council on Monday, as the treasury bench took the lead in questioning the government.

Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi stepped in to ensure the legislators that the matter would be looked into.

The BJP's Nawal Kishore Yadav claimed no compensation had been paid to the fishermen and fox nut and water chestnut farmers. Sugarcane industry minister Khurshid alias Feroz Ahmed informed the House that no application had been received. He was replying in absence of disaster management minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav. Infuriated, JDU MLC Satish Kumar said none of the affected fishermen in the 17 affected blocks in East Champaran district had been paid compensation even after submitted their application.

Dilip Choudhary (JDU) asked if the government agencies had done anything to make the affected farmers aware of the process to claim compensation. As Khurshid seemed to be at a loss for words and Sushil Modi stepped in.

The government also faced tough questions from the ruling party members delay in payment to landowners for land acquisition to build National Highway 77. Minister Nand Kishore Yadav assured that compensation would be provided at the earliest.