Gujarat govt suspends Himmatnagar Urban Development Authority formation over 11 villages
Villagers had opposed the formation on grounds that ‘when a town planning scheme is announced, 40 per cent land is taken away from farmers without any compensation’
The Gujarat government has suspended its decision to form the Himmatnagar Urban Development Authority (HUDA) covering 11 villages in Himmatnagar in Sabarkantha district. The announcement was made late Wednesday by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, after a meeting in Gandhinagar with representatives of the concerned villages.
In November 2023, the state government had issued a notification announcing HUDA and including 11 villages under its jurisdiction. A draft plan was subsequently issued in September 2025. Villagers had opposed the move under the banner of the Himmatnagar HUDA Sankalan Samiti.
Speaking with The Indian Express, Utsav Patel, convener of the Samiti, said the state had attempted to form HUDA earlier as well.
“The state government had announced to form HUDA in 2012 too, but the plan was suspended following an agitation in 2015,” he said.
“Later, through a notification dated November 11, 2023, the HUDA was announced. A total of 11 villages were to be added to HUDA. Its draft plan was presented on September 7, 2025. After that, farmers of 11 villages launched an agitation,” Utsav added.
He said the protest stemmed from fears that farmers would lose land without compensation.
“After formation of an urban development authority, when a town planning scheme is announced, 40 per cent land is taken away from farmers without giving them any compensation. So that was our main issue,” he said.
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Utsav further said the region’s urban dynamics were not comparable to major cities.
“The basis of our protest was that such authorities in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar are different. Lots of people migrate to these cities. Our Himmatnagar is a small city like a village. It is not that people settle here after migration because there is no presence of such industries here for opportunity of business and trade. Despite that, if such a big scheme is being implemented, it could cause the downfall of farmers. And so, we opposed it,” he said.
Following the agitation, the state government formed a four-minister committee. Representatives of the villages and three ministers on the committee — Arjun Modhwadia, Rushikesh Patel and Pradyuman Vaja — held a meeting with Deputy CM Sanghavi on Wednesday.
After the meeting, Sanghavi formally announced the suspension of the HUDA formation.
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An official release stated, “After carefully listening to the leaders and villagers who had come to make a representation on HUDA, the state government has suspended the decision to form Himmatnagar Urban Development Authority for now.”
Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express as Chief of Bureau, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region.
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Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Patidar, Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these issues:
Caste and Discrimination: He has reported extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani.
Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), 2002 Gujarat riots and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement and fake encounters.
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