The Congress on Saturday alleged Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat and the Ruias-led Essar Group's Essar Power Gujarat Ltd for illegally usurping agriculture land from the farmers of Devbhoomi Dwarka district in Saurashtra.

In a statement issued here, the AICC National Spokesperson, Shaktisinh Gohil alleged that government illegally conducted a mid-night operation by using armed police force to take possession of agriculture land of the farmers in presence of the officials of Essar. "JCBs swooped down on Mota Maanda, Parodia and other nearby villages of Khambalia taluk. BJP government is acting on suggestions of industrialists and acting against law," he alleged terming it a nefarious act and demanded an immediate action against officers who colluded with the company.

“The company had sought 17,69,986 Sq mt land for building a corridor. The land included gauchar land also. The company managed very low Jantri rate for farmers’ land through government officers. However, while the process was on, new Land Acquisition Act provisions came into force. Ignoring The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act 2013, the award was announced. This was being opposed by farmers. Thus the process was incomplete as per the new law," he said.

Fertile land around this gauchar land was forcibly taken away from farmers under the Land Acquisition Act, 1984. This has gone to High Court and it is learnt that the Court has ordered a stay on the government action on the ground that the land cannot be acquired without consent of the farmer. Gohil alleged that Collector and DSP too acted in favour of the company.

Meanwhile, the Essar Group declined the allegations saying that no forceful possession of any land is being taken. In a statement, the company clarified that the Government granted government waste/gauchar land ad-measuring 1,24,445 sq. mt. and not 17,69,986 sq. mt. land, as was alleged by the Congress leader.

On the allegations of Gauchar land, the company stated that an equivalent amount of alternate land 13,746 sq.mt. in lieu of Gauchar were handed over to the Government apart from 30 per cent additional amount of occupancy price for Gauchar reform was also paid to the Government, while it had no role to play in deciding the Jantri rate.

Award was issued as per Right to Fare Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act 2013 and entire process of acquisition was carried out as per the present norms.

The company is carrying out its activities on the land owned by the company either by way of land purchased, acquired or allotted by the Government for which necessary consideration as determined has been fully paid and stipulations attached to the allotment are also complied with.

As part of the exercise only such lands that are allotted to the company has been taken up for handing over of the possession to the company, the Essar statement said.

However, Congress has demanded return of the gauchar land which Essar has taken, and a CBI inquiry into the way the administration has tried to grab the land and give it to Essar.

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