Hazira villages on the boil over exit route

The residents of the seven villages that lie between Bhesan and Hazira  - Damka, Bhatlai, Mora, Rajgari, Suvali, Junagam and Hazira - are seething with anger over the state government's proposal to build a 20-21 km-long emergency escape route through these villages. The state roads and buildings department is planning this emergency exit for the large industries located in Hazira and its adjoining areas.

The residents are afraid that nearly 10,000 villagers living in these villages will lose their land or houses or both, if the proposed emergency route is built. Villagers further argue that thousands of acres of fertile land will be lost if the emergency exit is built as currently planned. "But only barren land will be lost if the government accepts one of the alternative routes that we have suggested for the emergency exit," a villager said.

Shantilal Patel, sarpanch of Rajgari, said that 110 houses will have to be demolished for the escape route. "Farmers will lose more than 100 acres of land," he said. "More than 500 people will be directly displaced because of the project. There will be massive environmental damage, too, as thousands of trees will have to be cut down to make way for the road and rail route."

Most villagers, however, do not expect the government to pay any heed to their request. Angry villagers have started making their protests felt by boycotting the gram sabhas held in their respective villages.

"We cannot allow the state government to take away our land," said Geeta Patel, a local villager. "To protest against the route, we boycotted the gram sabha held on June 6 in our village. We will continue to boycott all government programmes and schemes till the issue is resolved."

The villagers say they will go to any extent to protect their land and houses. "We will resort to agitation and call for a chakka jaam if the route of the emergency exit is not changed," said Bhikhu Patel of Mora village. "We will not allow a single vehicle to enter or leave Hazira. Ours will be a fight to the finish."

Striking an emotional note, Naresh Patel, another villager, said that a majority of the residents of these villages had been living here for generations. "They have no other place to go to," he said. "They earn their livelihood through farming or animal husbandry. Even this will be gone if they lose their lands."

However, Kirit Patel, MLA from Olpad, said he was hopeful of a positive resolution to the impasse. All the seven villages fall under Olpad assembly constituency.

"I have met state ministers Saurabh Patel and Anandiben Patel and discussed the issue with them," Patel said. "They have given the assurance that villagers' interests will be taken care of."
He further said that there is an alternative route possible for the emergency exit. "I am confident that the villagers will not lose their land or houses," he added.