Officials of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) held meetings with farmers, their representatives and activists opposing land acquisition for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. The JICA funds the project.
The officials met farmers and their lawyer Anand Yagnik and activists in Surat, Bharuch, Valsad and other places to understand their concerns and demands for parting with their land. The officials decided to meet the farmers after petitions were filed in the Gujarat High Court against the land acquisition process initiated by the Gujarat government. Over 1,000 farmers have filed affidavits, contending that the process violates the guidelines of the JICA.
“At our meeting with the officials, we apprised them of our concerns and the unilateral approach taken by the State government towards land acquisition. We want a fresh environment impact assessment and a social impact assessment,” said a farmer from Bharuch.
JICA’s assurance
“After the meeting, the JICA team has assured us that our concerns will be addressed and the JICA guidelines will be followed,” said Rohit Prajapati, an activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti.
Jayesh Patel of the Gujarat Khedut Samaj (farmers’ society) also met the team and put forward the demands of farmers in south Gujarat. “As per the JICA guidelines, there must be fair compensation for those whose land is acquired for any project funded by it; but in the case of the bullet train project, that’s not the case because the Gujarat government has diluted the provisions so that compensation comes down,” he said.
Farmers have alleged in their affidavits that the State government has diluted the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, after Japan entered into a contract in September 2015 with the Indian government to build the country’s first bullet train corridor between Mumbai to Ahmedabad. A total of 1,400 hectares is being acquired by the Maharashtra and Gujarat governments. Of this, 1,120 hectares is privately owned by farmers who demand higher compensation. The bullet train will run at a speed of 320-350 kmph, through 12 stations on the 500-km stretch.