In a major development, the Gujarat Government on Wednesday decided to exclude 36 villages from the proposed Mandal-Becharaji Special Investment Region (SIR) after farmers protested to give their land for the purpose.
On July 11, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi met farmers of Mandal-Becharaji area and heard the representatives of farmers belonging to 44 affected villages. Subsequently, Modi had assured them that their land would not be acquired against their wish as the State Government would give final decision on the matter before August 15.
later, a committee consisting four Cabinet Ministers including Urban Development Minister Nitin Patel, Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and Energy & Petrochemical Minister Saurabh Patel was formed to study the issue. The committee met farmers one by one and recommended to exclude 36villages from the proposed SIR.
Talking to The Pioneer Gujarat Government spokesperson and member of the committee said, “Now, the SIR will be implemented in eight villages as most of the farmers in these villages have given consent to sale their land. The villages are Udhroj, Ukardi, Chandanka, Udhrojpura, Shihor, Hansalpur, Bharapur and Sitapur -which are part of Mandal, Detroj and Becharaji talukas. A new notification will be issued shortly in this regard.”
SIR is a part of the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor which is being developed in partnership with the Japan Government, said Patel, adding that though the project is very important for the industrial development in the State, the Chief Minister was committed to consider the interest of farmers too. At the upcoming SIR, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) is planning to set up a car manufacturing unit.