Chhattisgarh Housing Board Chairman Anurag Singh Deo has defended the anti-encroachment drive in Nakti village, asserting that the action was carried out on the basis of revenue records and public complaints, and had no connection with any proposed MLA housing project. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Singh Deo said several facts regarding the issue had recently been placed in the public domain and sought to clarify what he described as misconceptions surrounding the demolition drive. According to Singh Deo, Nakti village has a population of around 2,110, with 22.736 hectares of government land, 34.175 hectares of private land and additional grazing land. He said the anti-encroachment action was initiated on the basis of a patwari report, which identified encroachment on nearly three hectares of government land. He claimed that the alleged encroachments had taken place during 2022 and 2023. He said the action followed a complaint filed by Rajnish Kumar Chandrakar, who alleged that government grazing land was being encroached upon in a planned manner. Singh Deo further stated that the land had already been declared government grazing land by the High Court in a judgment delivered on January 28, 2011. The Housing Board Chairman informed that several individuals had occupied large portions of government land, with some encroachments extending to nearly 30,000 square feet. He claimed that at least 20 alleged encroachments exceeded 10,000 square feet each. Singh Deo said the land continues to belong to the Revenue Department and not the Housing Board or the RDA. The proposal regarding residential use of the land had been discussed during the previous Congress government, but no decision had been taken.

 

He added that a communication issued on February 2, 2026, stated that the land did not belong to the Housing Department and that matters relating to MLA housing were to be decided by a committee headed by the Chief Minister. He maintained that there is no proposal at present to construct an MLA colony on the site. The Chairman accused Congress leaders, including former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, of spreading misinformation and attempting to provoke public sentiment by linking the anti-encroachment drive with an alleged MLA housing project. He also alleged that protests had led to unlawful activities, including trespassing at the residence of the Housing and Environment Minister, and demanded strict legal action against those responsible. Singh Deo said the State Government had rehabilitated 66 affected families at Sector 30 by providing permanent accommodation and basic amenities, including electricity and food assistance. He claimed that most beneficiaries had already shifted to the rehabilitation site, while only a few families were yet to relocate. Singh Deo informed that around 150 encroachments were removed from Chherikhedi for the development of an MLA colony without rehabilitation of the affected occupants by the previous Congress Government. He further claimed that prolonged protests by farmers during that period were suppressed and that a farmer, Siyaram Patel, died during the agitation. Singh Deo also accused the Congress of attempting to create unrest for political gain. He asserted that the BJP government led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai remains committed to protecting the interests of economically weaker sections while ensuring the protection of government land.