A major land grab has surfaced in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, where unauthorized residential colonies have been erected directly over the catchment and submergence areas of the Kokritarai reservoir. Land that was acquired by the state government nearly 48 years ago for critical water conservation infrastructure is now occupied by concrete houses and multi-story structures. A ground assessment indicates that illegal plotting and construction have sprawled across more than 10 acres of this public reservoir land.
Land Acquired from 108 Farmers in 1978 Remained Unregistered
The origins of the dispute date back nearly half a century to the formal land acquisition for the irrigation project. Official records show that in 1978, the government acquired 72.455 hectares of land from a total of 108 farmers across four villages: Kokritarai, Chiraipani, Uchhabhitthi, and Parsada. However, due to administrative lapses spanning several decades, the majority of these acquired land parcels were never formally transferred to the Water Resources Department in the revenue records. Land cartels capitalized on this administrative vacuum and documentation gap, slicing up government-held reservoir land into small plots for public sale.
Plots Sold at Rs 2 Lakh per Decimal Fuel Rapid Concrete Influx
The ground scenario reveals a systematically planned unauthorized township emerging across the water body's catchment basin. While dozens of residential units are fully built and occupied, active construction continues across multiple adjacent parcels. Exploiting rising housing demand, property dealers sold smaller parcels to individual buyers at rates climbing up to Rs 2 lakh per decimal. This rapid real estate expansion has steadily eaten away at the reservoir's natural drainage basin and holding capacity.
Irrigation Lifeline for Dozens of Downstream Villages at Risk
The Kokritarai reservoir serves as an active irrigation lifeline rather than a derelict structure. Water from this water body directly irrigates agricultural fields across numerous surrounding settlements, including Uchhabhitthi, Kiritmal, Charbhatha, and Pandripani. Local farmers depend heavily on the reservoir to sustain crops through the dry summer months following the monsoon season. The proliferation of unauthorized concrete settlements directly threatens the water supply and long-term agricultural viability of these rural communities.
Water Resources Department Submits Detailed Report as Revenue Court Takes Up Case
With public scrutiny mounting over the unchecked encroachment, authorities have initiated legal proceedings. Water Resources Department official Homesh Nayak stated that an exhaustive report detailing the extent of illegal plotting and unauthorized land occupation has been compiled and submitted to senior officials. Strict legal notices have already been served to more than 120 individuals identified as illegal occupants. The entire matter is currently under active review at the tehsil level, where statutory proceedings will determine subsequent enforcement actions.
