The Bhilai Municipal Corporation has initiated action against over 80 farmers, issuing notices related to allegations of illegal plotting. The farmers are expressing outrage and apprehension, emphasizing that their involvement was limited to selling their farmland. They assert that the plotting activities were undertaken by land mafias and that responsibility for the actions should lie with them.
The notice, issued by the Municipal Commissioner on May 29, alleges that the farmers violated municipal rules by plotting and registering land within the municipal area. This is in contravention of the Municipal Corporation Act and associated colonizer regulations. The matter came to the authorities’ attention through a letter from the Deputy Registrar, Durg district.
The farmers have been given 15 days to respond to the notice. It also warns of potential penalties, including a jail sentence of 3 to 7 years and a fine of up to one lakh rupees, if a satisfactory response is not received. The farmers are now seeking support from the Collector to address this situation.