Gujarat : Villagers Take to Streets to Save Chotila Officer Who Took on Mining Mafia

SURENDRANAGAR : For once, villagers are not protesting against an administration officer—they are taking to the streets to stop his transfer. Residents and sarpanches from 15 villages in the Chotila region of Surendranagar have come together to demand that Deputy Collector H.T. Makwana be allowed to continue in the area, crediting him with taking on illegal mining, land encroachment and irregularities affecting ordinary people.

Makwana, who has served in the Chotila, Than and Muli areas for around two years, was transferred to Mahisagar in the Gujarat government’s recent reshuffle of 144 Class-I officers.

The transfer has triggered an unusual response from villagers, who submitted a petition to the Collector urging authorities to reconsider the decision. Their demand is simple: “Let him complete his term.”

During his tenure as Chotila Prant Officer, Makwana reportedly intensified action against illegal mining operations and worked to free government land from alleged encroachments and pressure.

Locals also credit him with addressing irregularities in education, healthcare, mid-day meals and ration distribution. They said his intervention helped poor families recover land allegedly occupied by influential elements and assisted homeless families in securing land.

Pitha Parmar of Umarda said villagers had personally witnessed the officer’s work.“We know every bit of the work he has done. Over the last 15 to 18 months, we have seen what an officer like him can achieve,” Parmar said.

He recalled Makwana’s long working hours, saying the officer often continued working without proper meals.

“He worked continuously for 18 to 20 hours. I have personally seen him having lunch only at around 4.30 or 5 pm. Such an officer should not be transferred before his work is complete,” Parmar said.

Nalkhamba Sarpanch Kirit Panara said Makwana’s actions had particularly benefited weaker sections.

“He has done a lot of work for lower-income people and created fear among land mafias,” Panara said.

The villagers’ campaign has gained significance because Makwana had emerged as a prominent administrative face against alleged illegal mining in the Chotila-Than belt.

Now, the people who say they benefited from his enforcement drive are asking the government to reconsider his transfer, arguing that continuity is essential if the crackdown on illegal mining and encroachment is to continue.

The unusual public support has placed the government’s transfer decision under a different spotlight—with villagers effectively saying that an officer who stood up for them deserves their stand in return.