Gujarat : Controversy over Illegal Salt Manufacturing in Bhavnagar 

Bhavnagar : The Bhavnagar district administration and state government face accusations of illegally allocating land along the Bhavnagar coast in Gujarat to specific corporate entities for salt manufacturing. Amidst state-funded initiatives to combat salinity ingress, Congress leader Manhar Patel alleges that this move jeopardizes the livelihoods of local farmers.

Patel asserts that since 2018, the government has leased 12,000 to 15,000 acres of land to companies for salt production, while applications from local farmers for land leases have languished for over two decades. He raises two critical concerns: the disparity between promoting salt manufacturing and denying local farmers opportunities, and the contradiction in allowing such manufacturing activities along the coastal belt while aiming to develop the Bay of Cambay’s saltwater reservoir.

Accusing salt-manufacturing companies of flouting regulations, Patel claims violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone notification. These companies allegedly operate without the necessary NOCs from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the Forest Department, even within the proximity of the Blackbuck Sanctuary. Additionally, he alleges that these salt pans breach the Groundwater Act by utilizing groundwater without proper permissions, while regulations mandate the use of seawater for such operations.

Patel demands equitable treatment, suggesting that if the government leases land to corporations, it should extend similar opportunities to local farmers for agricultural activities. He further calls for the withdrawal of notices issued to farmers, who were asked to pay Rs 9,000 per hectare, emphasizing the need for fair and just allocation of land resources in the region.