Will the protest against the Nirma plant in Mahuva spread?

Those fighting against the Nirma plant in Mahuva it seems are not content with one issue on hand.

Veteran politician Sanat Mehta, BJP MLA Dr Kanubhai Kalsariya, Youth Congress president Indravijaysinh Gohil and veteran activist Chunibhai Vaidya on Friday told media persons that they plan to take up similar issues in 25 places across the state.

In countdown to a public gathering in Doliya village in Mahuva on Sunday, posters and leaflets were distributed highlighting at least 25 places along the state's coastline where industrial development was causing irreparable damage to environment and local tribes' livelihood.

Of these 25 places, 16 are those where ports or industrial plants have already been constructed. Nine other proposed sites are facing protests from locals.

"Silver Industrial Corridor on the coastline will permanently kill villages and fishermen," Dr Kalsariya said.

Mehta pointed out that though salinity ingress has been ruining the farming capacity of the land in coastal villages, the construction of environment-friendly bandharo, as constructed in Mahuva, has significantly improved the situation.

"Farmers are selling off their farm land to government or private parties as they find it redundant. But if it can be turned into a fertile land that can be irrigated, they will like to hold on to it," he said.

For reference, a research conducted by Mehta has apparently found that the rates for land which are affected by salinity ingress are two to three times lower than the unaffected ones.

Citing several examples of industrial houses having had to change their plans due to local protests, Vaidya said the government should ask people why they are protesting.

"Is it that they are against development, or is it because the proposed development does not benefit them and so they are protesting" Who is the owner of natural resources - the society, the people or the government? We will take this question to people who live on the coastline…" Vaidya said.

At a time when there is a buzz that Rahul Gandhi will also attend the rally in Doliya village on Sunday, Dr Kalsariya further raised his ante against the BJP claiming that he had emotionally disassociated himself from the saffron party.
"I hope they dispel me at the earliest," he said.

The drone however is that BJP is not likely to take any action against Kalsariya before the panchayat and nagarpalika elections.

"They need the ambiguity to garner votes. They are not supporting me in this campaign, but they haven't fired me either," the legislator said.