Chhattisgarh Authorities Demolish 77 Houses Near Raipur Airport

Overview

• The district administration carried out a joint anti-encroachment operation that razed 77 structures on disputed land near Raipur airport, with officials saying eviction notices and a tehsildar court order preceded the action.
• The demolitions, which took place on June 29, saw hundreds of police deployed and residents clashing with officers as some people tried to block bulldozers.
• Officials say affected families have been moved to houses in Sector-30, Nava Raipur and given food, water and medical help while the administration completes rehabilitation work.
• Villagers maintain the land is Shamilat Charagah, or common grazing land held by forebears, and say about 30 demolished homes were built under PMAY and two under the earlier Indira Awas scheme which in some cases left families with unpaid grants and loans.
• Key open questions include independent verification of which houses were PMAY beneficiaries, the legal interpretation of Shamilat Charagah in local records, and unconfirmed claims that the cleared land could be used for a proposed legislators' colony or other development.