The Madhya Pradesh Warehousing Corporation has proposed a six-storey Food Building with an estimated construction cost of ₹64 crore. Including associated facilities, the total project cost is expected to rise to ₹90–100 crore. The building is planned on approximately 1.5 acres of land currently occupied by the Weights and Measures Controller’s office near the District Industry Centre in MP Nagar.
According to officials and activists, the land earmarked for the project has a dense green cover, including Peepal and Banyan trees aged between 40 and 50 years. Preparatory work for tree removal has reportedly begun, intensifying concerns among environmentalists.
The MP Weights and Measures Officers–Employees Struggle Committee has announced a protest on Thursday. Committee president Umashankar Tiwari said employees, along with environmental activists, will participate in a Chipko-style demonstration by hugging the trees during their lunch break. Participants will also wear black armbands as a mark of protest.
Tiwari questioned the need for what he described as excessive expenditure on a single department. He pointed out that the Warehousing Corporation, Food Directorate and Weights and Measures Department already operate from government-owned buildings, while only the Civil Supplies Corporation (NAN) functions from a rented office. “Spending nearly ₹100 crore mainly to accommodate one department is unjustified,” he said.
Employees have also raised concerns about the disruption the project may cause. The construction plan involves demolishing the existing Weights and Measures building, which would require departments to operate from rented premises for nearly three years. This, employees argue, will result in additional financial burden on the government.
The Weights and Measures department has already faced space constraints in the past. Officials said that seven years ago, the Deputy Controller and Inspector offices were shifted to a 5,000-square-foot rented building on JK Road at an annual cost of around ₹50 lakh. Employees maintain that the rented space remains inadequate for departmental needs.
In addition to the Food Building, a separate proposal worth ₹5 crore has been submitted for establishing a tank lorry calibration facility at the headquarters, further adding to concerns over expenditure and land use.
With tenders already issued, protesters say they will continue their agitation unless the project is reviewed and alternative sites are considered to protect the existing green cover.
