In August 2024, farmers from 14 tribal villages in Jhalod taluka of Dahod district staged a protest, halting construction work on the Delhi-Mumbai Corridor. The farmers, from villages like Mundha, Sutharwasa, and Amba, have been opposing the government’s acquisition of their land for the highway for two years, demanding fair compensation and basic facilities such as roads, electricity, water, anganwadis, etc. Frustrated by the government’s inaction on their previous petitions, they gathered once again to stop the ongoing construction, voicing their grievances.
The protesters argue that the highway authority has taken more land than originally planned, without offering adequate compensation or addressing the loss of basic amenities in their villages. On 22 August 2024, the affected farmers had submitted an application to the Dahod district collector, but no action was taken. On 3 December 2024 hundreds of villagers, including women and children, arrived at the construction site to disrupt the work, demanding a reassessment of the land acquisition and provision of essential services like roads, electricity, water, and wells during the construction.
This is not the first time farmers in the region have raised concerns. In 2021, farmers from 14 villages in Jhalod and Limkheda talukas protested against the Delhi-Mumbai National Industrial Corridor, demanding the route be shifted to government forest or fallow land instead of their agricultural land. The farmers feared the loss of their livelihood and Scheduled Tribe status if their land is taken. They have even threatened to boycott local elections unless their demands are addressed. Despite years of protests, their issues remain unresolved, fueling the ongoing unrest.
On 3 December 2024, hundreds of residents from the affected villages blocked construction work for over two hours. District administration and police officials arrived at the site to mediate. Jhalod Prant Officer A K Bhatia, who visited the protest site after December 3, assured the villagers that their concerns are being reviewed. "Efforts are underway to address the water and road issues. A timeline will be set in coordination with relevant departments to resolve these concerns," Bhatia said.
On 24 February 2025, residents of 14 tribal villages in Jhalod taluka, gave authorities an ultimatum to fulfil promises made during land acquisition for the Delhi-Mumbai corridor before 5 March. Village leaders marched to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office, submitting a memorandum listing 16 demands, which they claim were accepted in writing in December 2024. The villagers allege that despite repeated assurances since October 2024, no action has been taken to address their grievances, including the loss of basic amenities. Frustrated by delays, they accuse authorities of deceiving them with false assurances for the past three years.
The aggrieved villagers, led by Mukesh Dangi, warned of large-scale protests starting March 12 if their demands remain unmet. Key issues include the construction of a crematorium in Vasti, a new anganwadi in Pavdi, and an underpass or overbridge for school access. They also highlight the authorities’ failure to restore 31 local roads with RCC construction as promised.
Dangi told The Indian Express, “The government first acquired land for two dams — Machannala and Kali-2, then for the Delhi-Mumbai corridor and now for the fourth time, they are planning acquisition for a greenfield airport announced in Jhalod. Along with the main airport, they also plan to acquire thousands of acres of land in the name of passenger amenities. This is a conspiracy to finish the tribals. We are strongly opposed to this. If they do not fulfill their promise by March 5, the district administration will be responsible for the consequences.”
While there has been no new development regarding the villagers' demands, in April 2026, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways announced that the Godhra–Vadodara stretch of the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway has been completed and opened to traffic on a trial basis. The direct connectivity between Delhi and Gujarat is expected by the end of 2026.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for more compensation than promised
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for basic facilities for 14 affected villages and a survey of additional land acquired by the national highway authority
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?
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, Dwelling/habitation use, Access and mobility to land, water and natural resources
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws, Land Acquisition Laws, Land Acquisition Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Incorrect estimation of compensation
Non-implementation/violation of PESA
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
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:
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?
