On the issue of Akbarnagar, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his government are misleading the citizens of Lucknow and the state. The Chief Minister’s statement that illegal encroachers were removed from the area is unfortunate and misleading. The truth is that Akbarnagar has been inhabited since before 1925, and it is duly recorded in the 1332 Fasli records. The residents’ houses were registered with the municipal corporation, and they paid house taxes. They also had connections for electricity and water, for which they paid bills. Government schemes were implemented in the area, leading to the construction of roads, lights, electricity, water, and drainage systems. According to media reports, tenders worth ₹1500 crores for Kukrail River Front, Zoo, and Night Safari are being awarded to companies from Gujarat, which built the Sabarmati River Front. The state government, acting as agents for these real estate companies, is intent on destroying the lives of common people. These points were made during a press conference organized by the Lucknow Bachao Sangharsh Samiti at the Press Club today.
During the press conference, it was stated that the government should explain to the citizens of Lucknow why it has decided to construct the Kukrail River Front within the 35-meter riverbed and even stated that the 50-meter flood plain zone is neither necessary nor proposed. In such a situation, bulldozing the homes of people settled within 500 meters in Akbarnagar under the pretext of being in a flood zone is unjust. The government has acted arbitrarily, unjustly, and dictatorially. Instead of reconsidering and realizing its mistake, it continues to spread false information.
In the press conference, it was also stated that the grand statements made by the Chief Minister about the Kukrail River Front during the inauguration of Saumitra Shakti Van are misleading. Despite the proposal for this project being made in 2020, four years later, the sewage and waste still flow into the Kukrail Nala, which remains filthy. Anyone can verify this by visiting the site.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister’s claim that the people of Akbarnagar have been properly rehabilitated is completely false. In reality, they have not been compensated for their land and houses. The one-room accommodations allotted to them in the Basant Kunj scheme are being charged at ₹4.8 lakh, to be paid in monthly installments of ₹3300 over 15 years. The situation is so dire that there are no government education or health facilities available in the Basant Kunj scheme where they are residing.
Speakers stated that the government has violated the constitutional right to live with dignity by evicting people. The government should admit its mistake, compensate the residents adequately for their houses, and resettle them in Akbarnagar. A letter has been sent to the Chief Minister regarding this matter, and if the government does not respond, the issue will be raised in the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha, and legal action will be taken. In the meeting of Lucknow Bachao Sangharsh Samiti on July 26, a strategy will be decided, and a peaceful democratic movement will be announced. Additionally, a communication campaign will be launched to inform the citizens of Lucknow about the truth of Akbarnagar.
The press conference saw the participation of Dinkar Kapoor, State Secretary of All India People’s Front; Praveen Singh, CPM leader; Dr. Shahzad Alam, city president of Congress; Chandrashekhar, CPI leader; Krishna Adhikari, CPI(ML) leader; Imran Raja, leader of Akbarnagar; Meena Singh from AIPWA; Rambabu from Jagruk Nagrik Manch; Advocate Ausaf Ahmed Khan; Kamlesh Singh; Sharmila Maharaj, former secretary of Samajwadi Party; Mohammad Salim, president of Tras Gomti Resident Struggle Committee; and Shantam Sahay from Yuva Manch, among others.
Imran Raja, Member, Lucknow Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Leader, Akbarnagar