NH-8 widening project: Farmers stop soil testing

It is only in Gujarat where farmers have raised voice against the project. NH-8,which connects Haryana to Thiruvananthapuram,passes through Vadodara,Kheda,Anand and Bharuch districts in Gujarat and farmers are apprehensive of losing land because of the project.

The farmers have alleged that despite airing their concerns about the adverse effects of widening of the highway,the local officials have ignored their pleas and have passed wrong messages to the senior officials and politicians in Gandhinagar.

So far,no violent protest have taken place,and farmers have said that they will carry on their non-violent fight.

Hasmukh Bhatt from Ekta Gramin Praja Vichar Manch,said: “We don’t intend to kick in the dark and that is why we first study what is wrong and also find out the viable solution. We are asking the government not to apply the National Highway Act 1956 because the Act was formed at a time when acquiring land was a different issue. But now the situation has changed and we are forced to preserve our farmlands. The government is ready to change the 1894 Land Acquisition Act but are not ready to change the 1956 Act. We are demanding that the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy (2007) should be applied while acquiring the land.”

Farmer leader Hasmukh Rao said: “We have been protesting in a way that it yields some results because we have realised that simply shouting slogans and getting violent against the administration fails to change government decisions. We are firm in our beliefs and more and more villages which will be affected in the project are joining us.”

Vadodara District Collector Vijay Nehra said there is no such issue. “I have not received any information about hindrance in soil testing. I had met the farmers some time ago and had listened to their problems at length. Their farming will not be affected because it is not a new road which will pass through their fields. The government is acquiring additional land on both sides of the existing road,” he said.