The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) on Thursday (November 20, 2025) accused the Madhya Pradesh Government of misleading the farmers in a notification issued to amend the scheme on Wednesday, in relation with the land pooling scheme for the development of permanent infrastructure for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, 2028, in Ujjain.
The development comes days after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, following a meeting with officials and farmer leaders, announced the reversal of the scheme that has been opposed by thousands of farmers in the region whose lands fall in the Mela area.
In a statement, the BKS, an RSS-backed farmer organisation, said that during the talks with Mr. Yadav and government representatives on November 17, it was decided that the land pooling scheme will be repealed but the notification is “complicating the matter”.
As per the notification issued by the Urban Development and Housing Department, the government specified various rules conditions for the implementation of the ‘Nagar Vikas Scheme’. The scheme is aimed at developing the Simhastha area by the Ujjain Development Authority.
While the scheme will remain applicable for land pieces marked for purposes such as roads, water supply, drainage and sewage; lands for any other purposes such as permanent ashrams and other infrastructure will remain exempt from the scheme, as per the notification.
“All lands required for the purposes specified under Section 50(12)(a) of the Madhya Pradesh Town and Village Investment Act, 1973, free from all encumbrances, have been fully vested in the Town and Country Development Authority. compensation for land acquired for road and social infrastructure will be determined separately,” the notification read.
The BKS has, however, raised suspicious over the government’s “intent” and warned of restarting the agitation while demanding a complete roll back of the scheme.
Speaking to The Hindu, BKS State president Kamal Singh Anjana said, “We had an big agitation planned for November 18 in Ujjain so on the 17th evening, the government called us for discussions. After the meeting, we were assured that the scheme will be revoked. The CM announced it himself and was covered in the media significantly. Now, this notification appears to be just twisting the wordings of the scheme and creates confusion among farmers.”
“We have given the government two days. Revoke the ‘Nagar Vikas Scheme’ completely or we will re-launch our agitation. Why do you want to develop the Simhastha area like a town? It’s known for tents and traditional set up gatherings. Let it remain like that,” Mr. Anjana said, opposing the involvement of the Town and Country Development Authority.
Madhya Pradesh Congress’s farmer cell president Kedar Sirohi called for clarity on the matter as the scheme impacts 5,000-8,000 farmer families in 17 villages in the region.
“The government needs to bring a document in clear words. Verbal assurances will not help here because the Chief Minister already did that. Still, this notification shows that there are two views within the government and someone is trying to undermine the CM’s words,” he said.
Government officials, however, argue that the earlier implications of the land pooling scheme have been gotten rid of and that the notification will only be applicable on about 70 hectare of land.
“Earlier, 2,378 hectare land was required but now only about 70 hectare is needed for essential infrastructure like roads and drainage. The administration is also looking to utilise as much government land as possible and further reduce the need to acquire private land,” an official in the Urban Development and Housing Department said, on the condition of anonymity.
The land pooling scheme was introduced in 2024 with an aim of building a permanent Kumbh city with an investment of ₹2,000 crore and making permanent infrastructure, including roads, ashrams for saints and akhadas, electricity infrastructure, underground drainage system, hospitals, and government.
Until now, the government used to build temporary infrastructure for Simhastha Kumbh Mela, that takes place every 12 years in Ujjain. The scheme was seen as an ambitious attempt by Mr. Yadav, who is an MLA from Ujjain, to transform it into a major pilgrim city.
The move, however, has met with constant opposition from hundreds of farmers from the region.
Published – November 21, 2025 04:57 am IST
