Close to 2,500 farmers of 192 villages in the state stand to lose agricultural land.
Farmers affected by the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train project will meet the officials of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) after the latter agreed to retreat, following requests from the farmers. The meeting will take place by next week. Close to a thousand farmers from the state had written to JICA on September 18 requesting to let them express their grievance to the company authorities, which is funding Rs 1.08 lakh crore project.
Close to 2,500 farmers of 192 villages in the state stand to lose agricultural land. Of these, around 1,200 farmers have submitted affidavits in the Gujarat High Court saying that they do not intend to part with their land for the project.
Farmers under the leadership of Gujarat Khedut Samaj (GKS) had earlier written to JICA that the project violates guidelines of JICA and of Japanese government for overseas funding. They also told JICA that if their grievances are not heard, they will file a petition in a relevant court in Japan. JICA wrote to GKS on Thursday saying a meeting will be organised 'soon'.
"We want to meet them this week or by latest next week. Our petition, to be filed in Japanese court, is ready," said Anand Yagnik, who is representing farmers in Gujarat High Court.
GKS president Jayesh Patel said that farmers are opposed to their land being acquired for the project. "We had told JICA that human rights are being violated in the process of acquiring land. Farmers opposing the acquisition are being detained," said Patel.
The farmers have told JICA that its guidelines are being flagrantly violated by state and central government and that it cannot remain a mute spectator, especially when it is their obligation to adhere to its own guidelines.
They also demanded that JICA should withhold disbursement of loans till the time social and environmental of guidelines of JICA are implemented by State and Central government. Also acquisition of land should be only under Central Legislation and not under State Legislation.
COMPLAINTS
Farmers told JICA that its guidelines are being violated by state and Centre and that it cannot remain a mute spectator, especially when it is their obligation to adhere to its own guidelines.
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