Coastal Villagers in Surat Protest Development Plan 2035

Surat : Over 1,000 villagers from coastal areas in Hazira gathered outside the Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA) office on Monday, protesting the draft development plan 2035. The villagers fear that the plan, aimed at expanding infrastructure and industrial zones, will lead to the acquisition of their ancestral lands and homes, robbing them of their livelihood and heritage.

The protest, held at SUDA Bhavan in Vesu, saw villagers from coastal areas including Vanswa, Damka, Bhatlai, Rajgiri, and Suvali voicing their strong opposition to the proposed 2035 development plan. According to the villagers, the draft plan envisions the acquisition of large tracts of their land for various infrastructure projects, including highways, industrial zones, recreational areas, and sewage treatment plants.

The villagers expressed concerns that the government’s focus on creating Industry Development Zones under the SUDA-2035 project would have a devastating impact on their communities. The plan, they argue, disregards the fact that many of the lands and properties marked for acquisition have been in their families for generations. With Surat being a major industrial city, the announcement of new industrial and infrastructure projects has fueled apprehension among farmers and local residents, particularly in Hazira, where many coastal villages are located.

The draft plan presented by SUDA includes the construction of highways, industry zones, recreational areas, and sewage treatment facilities, with proposed road widths ranging from 18 meters to 90 meters. Local residents argue that this development will come at the cost of their homes and farmlands, which they depend on for their livelihood. The map prepared by SUDA indicates that large sections of agricultural land, along with residential properties, would be acquired, effectively altering the landscape of these coastal communities.

A significant portion of the protest focused on the villagers’ dissatisfaction with the state government’s approach to land acquisition. Many villagers expressed their frustration, stating that the government prefers to acquire privately-owned land instead of utilizing its own land for development purposes. This, they claim, is an attempt to take control of valuable properties without considering the impact on local communities.

During the protest, community leaders expressed their determination to resist the plan. Jamin Patel, a representative of the villagers, spoke passionately against the draft, stating, “This is not a development plan; it is a demolition plan for the coastal areas. The government has always tried to acquire our land, and this time, once again, they have prepared a project that would grab our properties. We strongly oppose this.”

Patel emphasized that if the government fails to address their concerns, the community is prepared to escalate their protest. “We are ready to launch a more intense agitation in the coming days, including demonstrations in Gandhinagar. Our demand is simple: the government must abandon this plan and respect our rights to our land and homes,” he added.

The protest marks a growing resistance against large-scale development projects that locals believe threaten their way of life. The villagers have made it clear that they are prepared to continue their fight to protect their land and homes. The coastal communities of Hazira have historically relied on agriculture and small-scale industries for their livelihood, and the proposed changes could disrupt their way of life permanently.