Gondia farmers oppose land acquisition for new rail line; Kauthkar warns of Vidarbha-wide agitation

Gondia: Laxmikant Kauthkar, Vidarbha president of the Shetkari Sanghatana (Ra. Pa. Pranit), has made serious allegations against the government. He said drought-like conditions already prevail across the state and farmers and farm labourers are in distress. At such a time, he said, the government is misusing the land acquisition law to forcibly take the land of Vidarbha's farmers.

In a memorandum submitted to the district collector, Kauthkar warned that if the government does not stop this coercion, a strong agitation against the land acquisition law will be launched across Vidarbha.

Land acquisition for a new railway line is under way in the villages of Gudma, Dagutola, Khamari, Halbitola, Tumkheda Khurd, Karanja, Dawwa, Gankhera, Hirdamali and Goregaon in Gondia district. Local farmers are strongly opposing the acquisition.

Speaking to the media, Kauthkar said, "Farming is the only source of income and assets for farmers. The employment and immovable property of the coming generation also rest on farming. Farmers are already troubled by drought this year, and taking away their land at such a time is unjust."

The memorandum raises several points. First, under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, fertile farmland should not be taken and, where an alternative exists, fallow land should be acquired instead. The law clearly records this.

Second, under the legal provision, the consent of 70 per cent of the farmers is mandatory.

Third, a high-level inquiry should be held into how many people the proposed railway line will actually benefit and how many people will have to be resettled.

Kauthkar also questioned the 2018 legal amendment. In 2018, the state government amended the law to provide that farmland can be taken if there is a "special reason". Kauthkar asked, "What exactly is this 'special reason'? The government should make it clear. Farmer families should not be wronged by invoking the fear of the law when alternative fallow land is available."

He reiterated that the Shetkari Sanghatana would stand firmly behind all affected farmers of Gondia district.

Members of the "Jamin Bachav Samiti" and hundreds of farmers, women and villagers from Gudma, Dagutola, Khamari, Harbitola, Tumkheda Khurd, Karanja, Dawwa, Ganakheda, Hirdamali and Goregaon were present on the occasion.

Kauthkar said, "If the government uses the land acquisition law as a weapon and does injustice to the farmers of Vidarbha's Gondia district, a strong agitation against this law will be launched across Vidarbha."