Bhavnagar: Police has booked around 500 villagers for rioting in connection with yesterday’s stone pelting and mob attack.

State run power company GPCL had acquired 1414-54-18 hectare land belonging to 11 villages in Ghogha and Bhavnagar talukas of district Bhavnagar as per the Land Acquisition Act 1894. Necessary permissions regarding mining of lignite fuel for power station were received by company from coal ministry, environment and forest ministry and Gujarat Pollution Control Board etc for the project. Rs 36 crore compensation was paid to land owners for acquisition. GPCL had paid Rs 2.5 lakh per hectare for jirayat land and Rs 2.75 lakh per hectare for horticulture land between 1997 and 2005 which was three-four times higher than prevalent cost of land. The acquisition was smooth and it was completed with consent and agreement of farmers.

The farmers, however now are seeking fresh deal, fresh acquisition process and fresh payment as per rates of land prevalent today. Some dubious NGOs, activists and politicians are extending support to them for their visibly ‘impossible’ and ‘unfair’ demand. Pleas have been filed in the High Court and Supreme Court but none court has given order in favor of the villagers.

On Sunday, mobs of farmers gathered and tried to stop the work of power company by pelting stones. Police force which was already deployed there had to do lathicharge to control the stone pelting. Police also lobbed 62 tear gas shells. Those involved in violence were detained and booked for rioting offense later.

DeshGujarat