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At the massive gatherings that saw attendance from 17 villages in Ulpad and Chauriyasi taluka in Surat district, farmers decided not to give up their land for the central government’s Hazira to Jothan freight train project in the district, according to local body Khedut Samaj Gujarat. The meetings were held on Monday and Tuesday.
Referring to a government notification dated June 13, Ramesh Patel, Chairman of KSG Surat, said, “In the notifications, we found that there were significant differences in collection numbers. A total of 34 farmers from Ichhapore, 34 from Damka, 35 from Vanswa and about 10 from Olpad.
We are working on taking the legal path by filing a petition in the Gujarat High Court and carrying out the protests and handing over a warrant in the coming days. We have also sought time from the Federal Minister of State for Railways Darshana Jardosh. When she visits Surat, we will represent her.”
The meeting took place at the Jinning Mill complex at Jehangirpura in Surat where the farmers slated to be affected remained present.
Warsaw State Chief Jayesh Patel and Surat Chief Ramesh Patil briefed the affected farmers and gathered their views on the matter.
The local authority said that the farmers unanimously decided “not to give an inch of land to the railway goods train project”.
Giving more details about the meeting, Jayesh Patel, Chairman of KSG said, “There is no need to lay another railway in the area which already has a single track line owned by KRIBHCO (Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited). Total distance between the two locations – Hazira to Jothan – about 50 km.Currently freight trains are running on this track to transport goods from AM/NS, Kribhco, Adani, ONGC and IOC from Hazira to Gothan.If they want to increase the rail traffic they can use the same tracks and if needed The matter is, they should make certain changes to the current course.”
“In our previous statements to the Union Minister of State for Railways, Darshana Gardosh, and BJP MLA of Olpad BJP MLA Mukesh Patel, they assured us that no new land will be acquired for new tracks and that the vast land parallel to the existing tracks will be used for the new tracks. We have maintained our confidence in their assurances, and now on the 13th of June a notice has been issued about the acquisition of land from Hazira to the railway tracks in Gothan.”
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