Gandhinagar, 11 July 2013

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today constituted a high-level committee comprising four senior Ministers to suggest ways to solve the problems of villages to be affected by the proposed Mandal-Bahucharaji Special Investment Region (SIR) as part of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).

Mr. Modi asked the committee, comprising Mr. Nitin Patel, Ms Anandi Patel, Mr. Bhupendrasinh Chudasma and Mr. Saurabh Patel, to consider all technical aspects of the SIR keeping in view the farmers’ representation and their feelings and submit its report by August 15, 2013.

This was in response to a large delegation of 100 farm leaders from 44 affected villages who met Mr. Modi here today expressing their apprehensions about the SIR project. They included office-bearers of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and leaders of Ahmedabad and Surendranagar District BJP units. Mr. Nitin Patel, Mr. Bhupendrabhai Chudasma and Mr. Saurabh Patel were also present during the today’s meeting.

Mr. Modi said that the State Government has an open mind to the farmers’ problems. He said that his government had decided to develop Mandal Bahucharaji region as SIR as it had remained behind in industrial and agricultural development. Both the talukas have been brought under the irrigation facility with the Narmada waters.

He said that State Government has also framed progressive policies for industrial and agricultural development alongside rural development. He said that his government is committed to consider all aspects of industrial development and honour the feelings of the farmers, with appropriate and reasonable solution, as early as possible.

Mr. Modi assured the delegation that the state government would not take any action in case of the SIR without the consent and against the wishes of the farmers. He suggested that only four farmers’ representatives from the 44 villages and five leaders of Kisan Sangh could present their case before the high-level committee.

The Chief Minister asked the members of the farmers’ delegation to have trust on the government and be wary of vested interests busy spreading canards to mislead and waylaid farmers to implement their political agenda.

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