Surat : Villagers Protest Illegal Road on Grazing Land for industrial estate

Surat | Gujarat — In a strong show of protest, villagers of Segwa Syadla in Abrama taluka, Surat district, have submitted a memorandum to the District Collector demanding urgent action against the illegal construction of a paved road on grazing land (survey number 105). The road, allegedly built without administrative approval, is reportedly being used by heavy vehicles from a neighboring Anjani industrial estate in Surat,  causing damage to village roads and depriving locals of their pasture land.

The delegation included Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary and farmer leader Darshan Nayak, along with several local leaders and villagers, who urged the administration to take swift corrective steps.

“This is not just about land, it is about the rights of our cattle breeders and villagers,” said Darshan Nayak.

“Survey number 105 was allotted for grazing purposes decades ago. Its illegal conversion into a paved road is a blatant violation of the Gujarat Land Revenue Act and Supreme Court directives protecting pasture lands. The administration must immediately act against those responsible.”

Villagers allege that the road has primarily benefited Anjani Industry, located in a nearby village, whose heavy trucks now frequently use it as a transit route. “This is not their road. Their vehicles are not only damaging our internal village roads but also destroying the original purpose of the pasture land meant for our cattle,” said Ramesh Patel, a resident.

The complaint further highlights that the construction amounts to an offence under Section 441 of the Indian Penal Code (unauthorized entry) and related provisions, as the land is still registered as grazing land. Villagers have demanded that an FIR be lodged against the responsible parties and that the road be demolished to restore the land to its original form.

“Cattle breeders are directly affected,” said another villager, Mukesh Patel.“Our cows and buffaloes no longer have proper grazing space. Such illegal encroachment violates our rights and goes against the community’s interest.”

Legal experts note that the issue raises broader concerns over land use in industrial belts of Gujarat, where increasing infrastructure pressure often collides with traditional community rights. “Pasture lands enjoy legal protection, and their diversion without due permission is not just illegal but socially damaging,” one expert observed.

The villagers have called upon the Collector to order an immediate investigation, initiate legal proceedings, and ensure the pasture land is restored. They stressed that any delay would embolden violators and set a dangerous precedent.