Din in Chhattisgarh assembly as Cong seeks debate on 'unjust' demolition of houses in village

Raipur, Jul 15 (PTI) Opposition Congress on Wednesday created an uproar in the Chhattisgarh assembly over the anti-encroachment drive in Nakti village of Raipur district, alleging that the demolition of houses was unconstitutional and violated principles of natural justice. The Congress sought a discussion on the issue by moving an adjournment motion. After Speaker Raman Singh disallowed the notice, opposition members entered the well of the House in protest and were briefly suspended. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant and other Congress legislators alleged that the demolition carried out on June 29 and 30 in Nakti village was "unjust, unconstitutional and against the principles of natural justice". They claimed the action resulted in gross violations of human rights, and accused the BJP government of adopting a "bulldozer culture". Congress members alleged that several demolished houses had been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) and had electricity, drinking water and road connectivity provided by the government. The opposition also claimed that affected families had earlier been assured that their houses would not be demolished during the monsoon and that rehabilitation would precede any eviction. They alleged that the alternative accommodation provided lacked basic civic amenities and was inadequate for the displaced families. Responding to the allegations, Revenue Minister Tank Ram Verma defended the government's action, saying the eviction drive was carried out strictly in accordance with legal provisions and court orders. Verma said a complaint regarding encroachment on government land in Nakti village was submitted to the Raipur Collector in July 2023. Following an inquiry, proceedings were initiated under Section 248 of the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code, 1959. Notices were issued to all 77 alleged encroachers, and after due hearings, eviction orders were passed on April 11, 2025, he said. The minister said the encroachers challenged the order before the Sub-Divisional Officer, but their appeal was dismissed in December 2025, upholding the eviction order. Fresh notices were served on June 25 this year before the eviction drive was conducted on June 29, he added. Verma said 66 of the 77 affected families had been rehabilitated in the EWS Colony at Sector-30, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar by the Chhattisgarh Housing Board, while the remaining families did not turn up for relocation. He said the administration had provided sufficient time for residents to remove their belongings, arranged vehicles and labourers for shifting household goods, and supplied food during the relocation process. The rehabilitation site has electricity, water supply and other essential facilities, and already houses 300-400 families, he added. The minister also accused the previous Congress government of evicting 148 encroachers from government land in Serikhedi village in 2022 without providing any rehabilitation. After the minister's reply, the Speaker rejected the adjournment motion. Dissatisfied with the response, Congress legislators continued their protest in the well of the House, triggering their automatic suspension as per the assembly rules. The suspension was later revoked, and normal proceedings resumed. PTI TKP NP