Brijmohan Agrawal, a senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament from Raipur, has strongly objected to the construction of an MLA colony on land in Nakti village (Dharsiwan block) that is currently inhabited by poor families. He has written to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, demanding an immediate halt to the construction. In his letter, Brijmohan stated that the Chhattisgarh Housing Board plans to build the MLA colony on a 15.4790-hectare plot (Khasra number 460). However, over 80 impoverished families have been residing on this land for years. Many families have also received houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and there are community buildings and government constructions already present.
Brijmohan emphasized that the land is a common property of the villagers, which their ancestors had preserved as a grazing ground. The Gram Sabha and the Panchayat have also opposed the construction of the colony. He urged the government not to undertake development that would render people homeless. Former MLA Devjibhai Patel also met with Brijmohan Agrawal and shared the plight of the villagers, submitting a memorandum. He explained that most of the people living there live below the poverty line, and the land is associated with their livelihood and respect. Brijmohan Agrawal has urged the Chief Minister to immediately stop the proposed construction work and instruct the administration to maintain the status quo. He suggested that the MLA colony be built on vacant land or an alternative location, leaving the villagers’ land untouched. The issue has reignited the debate of development versus displacement. Agrawal stated that development is necessary, but it should not come at the cost of depriving the poor of their homes. This advocacy for the rights of the villagers has ignited a ray of hope in the local public, and now everyone’s eyes are on the government’s next step.
