Adani Group wants to lay 50-km railway track to make its port at Hazira operational.
In protest against land acquisition for industrialisation, more than 2,000 farmers of 24 villages between Kosad and Hazira are opposing the proposed railway line connecting Adani port.
To prevent any possible land deal, various farmer associations have started holding meetings in the area. Though the company is offering a price that is triple the market rate, farmers are not ready to sell their land.
The railway track is extremely important for full operation of the port built by the Adani Group at Hazira. But Jayesh Patel, secretary of Gujarat State Farmer's Society said: "The track will harm farming activity in the area. Movement of trains will also pose a risk to livestock and farmers."
To create awareness among farmers about the railway project, a massive meeting was held at Jahangirpura. At present, 52 metres of land are required from farmers as the Adani Group wants a 50-km railway track. The current market rate in the area is between Rs3,500-5,000 sq m.
"We have decided not to sell even an inch of our land to anybody for the project. We are united in this decision and are planning to move the court against any pressurised acquisition," said Dharmesh Patel, a farmer from Talad village.
The Surat district panchayat termed the protest premature. Interestingly, farmers have not approached elected members of panchayat on this issue. "Neither any farmer nor any farmer association has approached me on the issue. We could have raised the matter at the appropriate department," said Ashwin Patel, president of Surat district panchayat.
According to Patel, the farmers are protesting unnecessarily. "They should have checked whether land acquisition will take place or not in the area. Earlier SIR (Special Investment Region) issue was raised in the area, but the real situation was revealed later. This could happen in this case too," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}