Gujarat: Farmers won't allow land survey

Farmers of Gir Somnath district said they will not allow any survey of land for the proposed railway line between Veraval and Kodinar. They will also conduct a series of protest to press for their demand to get the project cancelled.

Farmers organised a series of public meetings at Kadvasan, Lodhva, Prashnavda, and Mithapur villages on Friday. They claim that the project aims to fulfil logistics requirements of Ambuja Cements and Siddhi Cement as well as upcoming jetty and a power plant of Shapoorji Pallonji Group. It will render over 350 farmers landless, disturb local connectivity and even cause water logging during Monsoon. The fertile land known for its production of coconuts, mango, other horticultural crops and food grains will be disturbed because of the railway line.

"Farmers have decided that they will not allow any government official to conduct a survey for the acquisition of land. We will also conduct a series of protests including giving representations to various government authorities" said Sagar Rabari, founder president of Gujarat Khedut Ekta Samiti.

Close to 1,100 farmers of 19 villages of Veraval, Sutrapada and Kodinar taluka of Gir Somnath district are affected by proposed railway project.

It is now over a month that farmers have been mobilising public opinion by holding meetings. The project was first proposed in the year 2010 but was postponed, again proposed in 2014 and postponed in 2016. The project has resurrected now, but local farmers are opposing it.