Dwarka: Opposition to the proposed airport project near Dwarka intensified on Tuesday as affected farmers staged a protest and submitted a petition to the administration, demanding that the project be shifted to an alternative location.

A group of farmers from Vasai, Mewasa and two more villages gathered raised slogans while submitting a memorandum to the Dwarka Prant Officer, Amol Awate. The protest follows resistance to the preliminary geographical survey work being carried out by the authorities, first on government land and subsequently on private agricultural land in four villages including Vasai.

The protesting farmers expressed concern over the possible loss of fertile agricultural land that has been cultivated by their families for generations. They warned that construction of an airport on the proposed site would render many farmers landless and strip them of their primary source of livelihood.

In their petition, the farmers urged the authorities to relocate the airport project to another suitable site, involving waste land or padtar land.

Farmer representatives further warned that they are prepared to approach the Gujarat High Court if the government fails to reconsider the project location.

Responding to the memorandum, Prant Officer Amol Awate stated that the geographical and ground report would be thoroughly examined as part of the ongoing survey and a detailed report would be submitted to the state government for further decision-making. DeshGujarat