Congress alleges forceful land acquisition by Essar at Dwarka, Gujarat

Ahmedabad

BJP government is using brute force to help Essar Power Gujarat Limited to take possessions of farmers’ land in Devbhoomi Dwarka district flouting all norms of Land Acquisition Act and Supreme Court orders.

Demanding immediate action against police officers who according have “colluded with Essar Power Gujarat Limited to take possessions of farmers’ land” in Devbhoomi Dwarka district, national spokesperson of Congress Shaktisinh Gohil released photographs of police in action against farmers to take possession of land for Essar.

Giving details, he said that the company had sought 17,69,986 Sq mt land including Gochar land for building a corridor in exchange of very low Jantri rate. As per new Land Acquisition Act provisions, the award was announced which was being opposed by farmers.

To forcibly take possession from farmers, in a mid night operation, officers of Essar along with armed police and JCBs swooped down on mota maanda, parodia and other nearby villages of Khambalia taluka, he said.

He further pointed out that Essar wanted gauchar land at mota maanda village and as per SC guidelines it could not be given. However, govt obliged the company by accepting a proposal that it would purchase equal area for gauchar land in return . But it did not fulfill the proposed condition. Fertile land around this gauchar land was forcibly took away from farmers under the LA Act 1984. The issues reached High Court and it is learnt that the Court has ordered a stay on the government action on the ground that the land cannot be acquired without consent of concerned farmer. In this case Collector and DSP acted in favor of company.

He said that the Essar has sought more land than required to build corridor to transport coal. By showing smaller area of gauchar land, the company has acted fraudulently. This extra land will bring coal pollution to greater area and will cause harm to farmers.

He said Congress demands action should be taken against all the officers who worked against order of Supreme Court in civil suit 877/2014 dated 24.1.2014 for grabbing land of farmers during night at the instance of Essar. The gauchar land should be returned. Farmers land should not be taken without their consent. CBI inquiry should be ordered in the way the administration has tried to grab the land and give it to Essar. The government should ask Essar to pay the expenses to those farmers who have moved court to obtain stay.

MLAs from Jamnagar and Dwarka Dharmendrasinh (Hakuba) Jadeja , Merambhai Ahir and Raghavjibhai Patel were present in the press conference.