Gujarat
,
Alang
,
Bhavnagar
Published :
May 2024
|
Updated :
17 villages threaten to boycott election over demands against proposed town planning schemes
Reported by
Suchak Patel
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
People affected
Year started
13100
Land area affected
Households affected
People Affected
Year started
13100
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Township/Real Estate
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Township/Real Estate
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

In January 2023, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel approved three Town Planning Schemes in Bhavnagar district to facilitate organised urban development across Alang and 16 adjacent villages, covering a total area of 131 square kilometers in Talaja and Ghogha talukas.

A month later, residents of 17 villages protested against the proposed scheme voicing concerns over the potential loss of land, affecting at least 500 farmers. These farmers grow some of Asia's finest mangoes on the land earmarked for the project. During the protest, farmers said that in July and September 2020 almost 100% landowners and villagers had objected to the three town planning schemes. They added that the authority did not call them for a hearing on the Town Planning scheme before sanctioning the project.

At a mass meeting organised by people of 17 villages at Manar village of Talaja taluka on 18 March 2024, villagers passed a resolution to boycott the Lok Sabha election if a proper decision is not taken on the issue of implementing the scheme.

The leader of Manar village told Sandesh News that the farmers had written to an Union Minister, expressing their concerns over the project. The leader stated that the farmers were opposing the move because the town planning schemes were approved despite the AADA officials conveying to their superior that there was no need of the Town Planning Scheme based on a meeting where 829 complaints were resolved.

Speaking to the BBC, a farmer said, "In all the villages included in the authority, three-season crops are grown here as the land is fertile. We have no objection if the Town Planning scheme is implemented on barren land, but the fertile land of the farmer is being taken here. Shetrunji canal water Farmers are getting daily bread due to getting it."

These Town Planning schemes for Alang focus on commercial and industrial space as they were drafted keeping in mind the ship recycling industry and the plan to develop a new industry of scrapping old vehicles, according to Vikas Ratada, the chief executive authority (CEA) of Alang Area Development Authority (AADA).

With these schemes, the government wants to provide certain facilities for industries to come in these areas. The move would also help ease sluggishness that the ship recycling industry in Alang has been facing since 2016-17 in selling their scrap to steel re-rolling mills.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to cancel the project

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Common and Private

Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Agricultural land

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Reported by
Suchak Patel
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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to cancel the project

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Agricultural land

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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Exclusive monthly policy briefs, stories from the ground, Quarterly Analytics report, Curated Expert talks, merchandise and much more.


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