GANDHINAGAR: In a significant demonstration, approximately 20,000 villagers, including farmers and cattle herders, rallied in Kanknol village, Himmatnagar taluka, Sabarkantha district on Thursday. They are calling for the cancellation of a notification to establish the Himmatnagar Urban Development Authority (Huda).
The Huda development plan proposes the appropriation of land from farmers in 11 villages as part of a town planning initiative. This protest, organized by Huda Sankalan Samiti, has been ongoing for 40 days, with previous rallies where villagers submitted memoranda to the collector and other authorities.
“We have decided to give the government a 15-day ultimatum to revoke the formation of Huda. Failure to do so will result in an indefinite hunger strike at the district headquarters,” stated Utsav Patel, the protest convener.
Those affected by the town planning argue that there is no need for an urban development authority for Himmatnagar. “All existing urban development authorities are in cities with municipal corporations. Huda is unique as it involves a nagarpalika,” Patel remarked. The notification establishing Huda was issued on November 11, 2023.
Protestors claim that a draft development plan covering 96.99 sq km was submitted to the state government about two months ago, informing farmers and landowners that they would lose their land for urban development. “Approximately 7,600 acres of predominantly agricultural land will be appropriated, affecting around 9,000 farmers,” Patel added.
He emphasized that Himmatnagar town, with a population of around 1.02 lakh, does not warrant the implementation of an urban development authority for planned development.
