Agitation against Nirma's cement plant continues in Mahuva

Locals have stepped up their agitation against the proposed Rs 2,500 crore cement plant near Mahuva in Saurashtra region following state government's green signal to the project.

"Local people and particularly farmers here are firm that they don't want a Nirma group's cement plant in the area. They feel that the state government has given go ahead to the project against their wish," BJP MLA Kanubhai Kalsaria, who led the agitation and was yesterday detained alongwith more than 100 people, said. Since last April, people have been protesting against the state government's decision to grant over 4,000 hectare lands to the Nirma industry for the cement plant having capacity to produce one million tonne cement a year.

The land granted includes government wasteland, a waterbody spread over 100 hectare and grazing lands in the villages like Amlia, Gajarda, Delia and Dudheri, which are located on the coastal area of Mahuva block in Bhavnagar district. According to locals, their sole source of livelihood is agriculture which is being snatched away from them for developing a cement plant, which would require lands for limestone mining. "I am local MLA representing the people here. We held meetings and majority of people have raised their voice against the cement plant," Kalsaria said.