Invite to Kalam sets ball rolling

The project, covering 74,000 hectares, 26 km away from existing Raipur city, has even had detractors within Jogi’s own party. Leader V.C. Shukla had slammed the project as a waste of money.

Yesterday, Jogi deputed Education Minister Satya Narain Sharma, a local MLA selected for the new capital, and Tourism Minister Dhanendra Sahu to identify a site to lay the foundation stone. Earlier, Jogi approved a rehabilitation package for the displaced villagers.

Of the 26 villages, identified by the Consultancy Engineering Company (CEC) of the capital township, three villages, Pauta, Cheria and Banjari are being taken up first. Only few days back, the government had lifted a ban on the sale of land in these villages.

The complex will have the secretariat and other state government offices. A grant of Rs 90 crore has been released.

Despite the government’s willingness to pay higher compensation for private land, the mood at Pauta is one of despair. The cause of worry — the inevitable displacement of families and forced acquisitions of agricultural land.

‘‘The government is not opening-up its cards. What kind of land will be acquired, how much compensation will be paid or how the rehabilitation plan will work? Everyone talks vague,’’ alleges Pauta resident Kundal Lal, a resident of Pauta.

Recently, when three ministers Satya Narain Sharma and Ravindra Chaubey and Bhupel Baghel visited Pauta, they faced the ire of villagers.

But Baghel claims the villagers will get compensations at prevailing land rates — higher than expected. There will be less displacement of inhabited villages. ‘‘If displaced, the rehabilitation plan will take care of all their woes,’’ he assures.

Notwithstanding the promises, the villagers have started organising themselves for a possible movement.

‘‘Is it wise to spent crores on new capital proiect to improve Raipur by investing less than Rs 100 crore?’’ asks Shukla. He has also accused Jogi of engaging ‘‘ill-reputed’’ companies to work on the project. But Jogi is unwilling to put his dream project in the back gear. ‘‘It’s linked to pride of Chhattisgarh,’’ he says.