AM/NS India violated provisions of SUDA’s development plan 2035: GPCC’s Darshan Naik

Surat (Gujarat) : Darshan Naik, general secretary of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, has filed serious charges against Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India Limited (AM/NS India) for flagrantly violating a provision of the Surat Urban Development Authority’s (SUDA) Draft Development Plan (DDP) 2035.

Naik has sent a letter to Shalini Agarwal, chairman of SUDA, alleging that AM/NS India has violated the provision of DDP 2035 approved by SUDA by carrying out industrial construction in Hazira village in survey numbers and blocks designated as residential zones.

According to Naik, AM/NS India is on the expansion spree in Hazira by setting up industrial facilities. The block numbers in Hazira namely 176, 216 to 224, 227, 228, 230, 231, 235, 236, 267, 311, 313, 353, 353/A1/A, which are earmarked as residential zones, have been illegally encroached by the company for industrial extension .

Moreover, the company has blocked the by-pass road from Jaldevi temple to Gundardi village, which has left the villagers in the lurch. The company is constructing industrial facilities on the land earmarked for road development in the SUDA’s development plan 2035 in Hazira.

Talking with The Blunt Times, Darshan Naik, general secretary of GPCC said, “AM/NS India has violated the provision of draft development plan 2035 approved by SUDA. IF there are any changes in the development plan, then SUDA ought to remove the illegal industrial construction in the residential zone”

Naik has demanded a thorough inquiry by SUDA authorities into the issue and follow the government regulations in public interest.

The AM/NS India spokesperson did not respond to The Blunt Times’ repeated calls and messages seeking clarification on the company’s position on the issue.