Gujarat farmers file affidavits in HC opposing land acquisition for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project

They contend that the Gujarat government has diluted the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, after Japan entered into a contract in September, 2015, with Centre for the project.

File photo of farmers protesting against the land acquisition Bill in New Delhi.

Around 1,000 farmers from Gujarat, whose lands are to be acquired for the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, have filed affidavits in the Gujarat High Court, opposing the land acquisition process started by the State government.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice R. Subhash Reddy and Justice V.M. Pancholi, is hearing five separate petitions that challenge the land acquisition for the country’s first high-speed rail project, which is being implemented with financial support from Japan.

The farmers have contended that besides themselves, the project will affect thousands of others who may be cultivating farms that are being acquired for the ₹1.10 lakh crore project. They have also contended that the existing land acquisition proceedings are contrary to the guidelines of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that has provided a soft loan to the Government of India (GoI).

According to the farmers, the Gujarat government has diluted the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, after Japan entered into a contract in September, 2015, with the GoI for the project. The dilution of the Act brings down the quantum of compensation package offered to the affected farmers, which constitutes a serious violations of the JICA (Japan Interbational Cooperation Agency) guidelines.

'Our consent not taken by State authorities'

Alleging that the Gujarat government was taking a unilateral approach in the matter, the farmers have contended that neither was their consent taken by the State authorities nor any consultations done with them while initiating the land acquisition process.

During the hearing, the Central government has sought more time to file its reply. A noted lawyer appearing for the farmers, Anand Yagnik, said the affected farmers would again approach the Supreme Court because the Centre was not filing its reply in the petitions filed in the High Court, and as a result, the High Court was unable to proceed in the petitions.

“These 1,000 affected farmers will be approaching the Supreme Court with a prayer to stay the project. We will mention the matter before the apex court on Wednesday for an urgent hearing,” Mr. Yagnik said.

Under the project, around 1,400 hectares is to be acquired in Gujarat and Maharashtra, 1,120 hectares of which is privately owned. Around 6,000 landowners will have to be compensated for their land plots. The bullet train will run at a speed of 320-350 kmph, and have 12 stations across the 500-km stretch between the two cities.