Raipur : Farmers across Chhattisgarh have expressed strong resentment over the state government’s decision to sharply increase land guideline rates without conducting any ground-level survey, assessing local conditions, or evaluating actual market prices. Addressing a joint press conference at the Raipur Press Club on Saturday, farmers and lawyers described the move as unilateral and anti-people, alleging that the government is placing an additional economic burden on farmers in an attempt to boost revenue.
The speakers said that nearly 300 farmers have already registered objections against the revised guideline rates at the Raipur Collectorate, with more farmers continuing to file objections.
Farmer organisations alleged that in several areas, guideline rates have been increased by 100 to 600 per cent, despite the absence of basic infrastructure or genuine market demand for land. “Even regions lacking essential amenities have been categorised as premium zones, leading to an unjustified hike in rates. This is a clear injustice to farmers,” they said.
According to the organisations, the rise in guideline rates has made land registration, stamp duty, mutation, bank loans, family partition, and other legal processes significantly more expensive. As a result, access to land and housing has become nearly impossible for small and marginal farmers as well as middle- and lower-income groups.
Farmers further stated that land transactions have virtually come to a standstill following the sudden hike. Agricultural land sales, small businesses, and traditional property-related activities have been adversely affected, raising fears of increased unemployment. Many farmers are unable to sell land even to meet urgent needs such as medical treatment, children’s education, marriages, or house construction.
The organisations also criticised the classification of roads under the new guidelines, alleging that national highways, state highways, Pradhan Mantri roads, and even village access roads have all been treated as main roads, a move they described as illogical and arbitrary.
“Land is not merely a property; it is the foundation of farmers’ livelihoods, employment, and future,” the speakers said. They warned that decisions taken without public consultation and proper market studies are against public sentiment and would lead to an increase in legal disputes as well as administrative burden.
Key Demands of the Farmers
- The increased guideline rates should be immediately put on hold.
- A comprehensive ground-level survey should be conducted in all districts and regions.
- New rates should be finalised only after discussions with farmer organisations, public representatives, and experts.
- Until the review process is completed, transactions should be allowed at the previous rates with reasonable, practical adjustments.
Farmer organisations cautioned that if the government continues to impose decisions without dialogue, the consequences would be severe for farmers and the general public alike. They urged the state government to prioritise public interest and reconsider the decision without delay.
Those present at the press conference included advocates Akash Hinduja and Keshav Vaishnav, along with farmers Bhishan Banjare, Jaduvan Sahu, Pawan Kumar Sahu, Ram Kumar Sahu, Thalendra Sahu, Dilip Sahu, Amin Khan, Jeetu Devangan, Tirath, Nohar Harbansh, Dilip Navrange, Tekram Verma, Dhananjay Ghritlahare, Pyarelal Maheshwari, Ghanshyam Verma, and several others.
