Leader of opposition in the assembly, Shaktisinh Gohil, has alleged that the state government has given 1,348 acres of reserved forest land in the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) to its favorite industries. The allegation came during the debate on governor’s speech in the Assembly on Wednesday(3 March 2010). Kutch’s Little Rann is a reserved forest area and the government cannot give this land to private companies.

“Despite the additional collector’s opinion against giving any land to industries in Little Rann’s reserved forest, the state government has given 640 acres land to Vinod Salt, 175 acres to Lakhdhir Salt, 250 acres to Jaydip Corporation and 283.19 acres to Bipin Salt.” he alleged. He said, pointing to a letter written by the additional collector of Surendranagar for the sanctuary, wherein the latter had pointed out the irregularity. He said the additional collector had contested the veracity of the survey numbers in his letter to the state government. The letter claims that the survey number shown as being on the borders four villages does not have any supporting documents like ‘7/12 copy’, so “there is enough reason to believe that it is of the adjoining land of the sanctuary and Hadkiya creek”, he said.

“The letter also quotes the oral order of April 4, 1997 of the Gujarat High Court banning the transfer or renewal of lease of protected land of the sanctuary,” he added. “Despite the fisheries commissioner’s report of the adverse effect on the employment of the lakhs of fishermen due to a proposed power plant in Kutch, the state government has allowed that power plant,” Gohil alleged. Due to this, the fishermen and the salt agariyas of Kutch have lost their livelihood,” he said. He added that due to pollution of the state’s coastal area, the fishermen were forced to cross into Pakistani waters and ended up in jails there.

Tags: Congress, enviornment, Gujarat Assembly session March 2010, Salt, Shaktisinh Gohil

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