Those affected by five different industrial projects across the state will come together for a 350km yatra.
In a first of its kind movement since Narendra Modi has taken the reins of power in Gujarat, approximately 5,000 affected farmers and their families from different parts of the state have decided to take out a padyatra (foot march), to protest against the government's industrialisation policies. The protest is mainly against farm land acquisition by government to facilitate industrialisation.
These farmers have come together on the platform of 'Gram Swaraj Samiti', and the yatra is aptly called 'Jal Jameen Jungle Bachao Yatra'.
Starting on March 3 from Mahuva in Bhavnagar, where a revolt against Nirma's cement factory has been brewing for the last two years, the yatra will travel 350 km through three districts - Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad and culminate at the Vidhan Sabha in Gandhinagar on March 17.
Significantly, this is probably the first time that such a major movement is being brought about by the people without any political support. Though the revolt in Mahuva is spearheaded by Mahuva's BJP MLA Dr Kanubhai Kalsariya, the ruling party that he represents is in fact promoting the industries' cause.
Activists from Mithi Virdi - opposing a proposed nuclear power plant; fishermen from Mundra - opposing industrialization on the coast; farmers from Navsari protesting farmland acquisition for a Special Investment Region (SIR); and farmers from Bhal region, where a chemical zone was proposed but withdrawn eventually, will join in the yatra at different points.
Even as several reports of scattered protests kept emerging sporadically, this is the first time such a mass is coming together as a force for their common issues with the government. "This is a non-violent way of making our point to the powers that be. Farmers in Gujarat have been cornered and this is our desperate bid to have our voices heard. If farm land of farmers is not preserved, there is no future," Dr Kalsariya said.
In case of Mahuva, Nirma has been given land by the state government to construct a cement factory, on what local farmers claim is a water body, which provides water for irrigation. It has been argued that the environmental clearance given by the Centre was on the basis of incorrect information, and should be withdrawn.
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