Surat Villagers Protest Diamond Barons Trespassing on Pastoral Lands

Surat : Hundreds of villagers from Bhatpore and Bhatha gathered for a crucial meeting on Tuesday to discuss their response to illegal encroachments by realtors and diamond barons on government-owned pastoral lands along the Tapi river embankment. The meeting aimed to formulate a plan to reclaim their lands and ensure the survival of their livestock-dependent livelihoods.

Bhatpore and Bhatha villages, home to over 3,000 cattle and 4,000 people, rely heavily on animal husbandry. Illegal constructions on their pastoral lands by influential realtors and diamond barons have severely impacted their way of life. With grazing areas diminished, villagers are now forced to arrange for external grazing, increasing their financial burdens significantly.

Adding to their woes, these villages are located along the banks of the Tapi River, where illegal encroachments violate embankment schemes and marine laws. This raises the risk of flooding, which could potentially submerge parts of Surat, including these villages, creating a pervasive atmosphere of fear among the residents.

Despite the clear violations, local administrative bodies such as the Surat district collector’s office and the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) have turned a blind eye. The Irrigation Department, responsible for overseeing the embankments, has also failed to address the illegal constructions, exacerbating the villagers’ plight.

In response, the villagers have rallied support from key figures, including General Secretary of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Darshan Naik, advocate Rizwan Mirza, Congress OBC leader Hemant Patel, and social worker Shoaib Sheikh. These leaders attended the meeting to understand the villagers’ challenges and devise a strategy to combat the encroachments.

“We are formulating a strategy with the villagers by seeking legal advice to combat the illegal encroachments by the realtors and diamond barons,” stated Darshan Naik. “A decision has been taken to make a strong representation to the Gujarat Government and to knock on the doors of the Gujarat High Court.”

The community’s plan includes seeking legal recourse to halt the illegal activities and protect their lands. By making strong representations to the government and potentially taking the matter to the Gujarat High Court, the villagers aim to reclaim their lands and restore their primary source of livelihood.