Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Government has formally staked its claim to host the 2036 Olympic Games and is eager to bring the event to the city. However, in a new legal challenge, farmers from Godhavi village have approached the Gujarat High Court against the government’s decision to declare certain areas as part of the ‘KZ-3’ zone, earmarked exclusively for sports and allied activities.

The farmers have challenged the notification declaring parts of Godhavi as a restricted institutional, sports, and recreational zone (KZ-3), which is intended to pave the way for Olympic-level sports infrastructure. According to petitions filed by around 57 farmers, the rezoning would affect nearly 500 farmers, causing significant hardship and future losses due to changes in land use. The petitioners argue that the original landowners stand to lose their rights and livelihoods as a result of the government’s decision. The matter is scheduled for a hearing in the Gujarat High Court next week.

It is notable that in September last year, the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department issued a notification under Section 19(1) of the Gujarat Town Planning Act, 1976, changing the zoning of around 500 acres in Godhavi to KZ-3. This change permits only educational, institutional, sports, and recreational activities, restricting any other type of development.

The government maintains that the KZ-3 zone will be developed exclusively for sports and related institutional activities, forming a core part of Gujarat’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics. DeshGujarat