The direction came from the division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav
The Gujarat High Court on Thursday sought a reply from the state government, revenue officials of Narmada district, and Sardar Sarovar Nigam Limited (SSNL) in connection with a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the court’s direction to authorities that tribals from six villages adjoining the Statue of Unity should not be evicted for the development of tourism facilities in the area.
The six villages include Kevadia, Vaghadiya, Navagam, Limbdi, Gora, and Kothi. The reply has to be filed by August 21.
The court, while issuing a stay in favour of the petitioners, also directed the authorities not to evict the tribal families till further orders. The direction came from the division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav.
‘MAINTAIN STATUS QUO’
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- The division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav issued notices to the state government, district revenue officials & SSNL seeking reply on the issue
- Further hearing in the case would be held on August 21
- The PIL was filed by city-based environment activist Mahesh Pandya.
- It alleged the government and SSNL want to evict around 5,000 tribals of these six villages “under the guise of tourism development projects”
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It is the case of the petitioners that the state government had initiated land acquisition proceedings in the area in 1961-62 for Narmada River Project Scheme. The land of the tribals residing in the area was also acquired for the purpose of constructing canals and roads. The petitioners have claimed that the land acquired from several tribal families was never utilised for the purpose for which it was acquired and the physical possession of the land was never taken over.
The petitioners through their advocate NM Kapadia have also argued that several tribal families are cultivating and residing on the land parcels in question; and for the past 58 years post-acquisition, physical possession of the land lies with them.
They have also questioned the award for compensation for the land acquisition carried out in the 1960s. It has been claimed that as per senior citizens residing in these villages, the authorities in the early 1960s had paid nominal compensation for crop damage due to use of heavy vehicles for the Narmada project. Now, the same compensation is being projected as compensation for land acquisition. The petitioners have demanded that the authorities must prove that the compensation was paid for land acquisition.
Since the acquired land was not utilised for the purpose it was acquired for and physical possession was never taken over, the land acquired in the 1960s has lapsed long back, the petitioners claimed. They also claimed that after the Statue of Unity was unveiled, the state government for the current fiscal has allocated a budget of Rs 260 crore for development of the surrounding area.
According to the petitioners, the government is planning hotels, riverfront entertainment, and state bhavans in the area to promote tourism, and the local revenue authorities have informed the villagers that they will be evicted.
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 "Statue of Unity")
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