A controversy has emerged in Raipur concerning the construction of an MLA colony on land occupied by impoverished families in Nakti village. Brijmohan Agrawal, the Member of Parliament from Raipur, has expressed strong opposition and written to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to halt the project immediately. The proposed colony, planned by the Chhattisgarh Housing Board, is slated for a 15.4790-hectare plot (Khasra number 460). However, this land is currently home to over 80 poor families, some of whom have houses provided under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The area also features community buildings and government infrastructure.
Agrawal emphasized that the land belongs to the villagers and serves as a grazing ground, as preserved by their ancestors. He highlighted that the local Gram Sabha and Panchayat also oppose the construction. Former MLA Devjibhai Patel met with Agrawal to share the villagers’ grievances, emphasizing that many residents live below the poverty line and depend on the land for their livelihoods and dignity. Agrawal has proposed that the colony be constructed on vacant land or an alternative site to avoid displacing the residents. This situation has raised the question of development at the expense of displacement, leading to discussions about the balance between progress and the welfare of the poor.
