South Gujarat farmers oppose bullet train

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project here on Thursday, farmers in south Gujarat came out in protest fearing acquisition of agricultural land.

They cited lack of planning in the project, non-involvement of stakeholders and violation of democratic and human rights as reasons for opposing it.

Farmers in several districts, under the aegis of Khedut Samaj – Gujarat, submitted memoranda to mamlatdars (revenue officers) of 16 talukas in Bharuch, Surat, Navsari and Valsad districts.

Speaking to DNA, Khedut Samaj president Jayesh Patel said, “We sought the details of the project from district collectors, but they are unable to provide any information.

We don’t know the route of the bullet train. We will either lose our land or they will be rendered useless for agriculture as construction activity will affect farming.”

The samaj has also e-mailed to Japanese PM, drawing his attention to the democratic and human rights violations in projects like Metro rail, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, the Special Investment Regions, the Express way, and now the bullet train, in which Japan is involved.