Bullet train setback: Gujarat farmers show red signal to PM Modis pet project
Bullet Train: The farmers have also written to the Japan government, alleging the violation of the guidelines of the Japanese agency which is funding the project.
Even though the work is in full swing to construct the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed project training centre in Vadodara, the Narendra Modi government's ambitious Rs 1.10 lakh crore bullet train project has hit another hurdle. As many as 1,000 farmers have now approached Gujarat High Court against the land acquisition proposal for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train. The farmers have stated in their affidavit that they don't want to give up their land for the purpose.
They also said that the existing land acquisition proceedings are contrary to guidelines of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that has provided soft loan to the Indian government for the project, reported PTI.
The farmers also accused the state government of diluting the Land Acquisition Act 2013 after the project was signed in September 2015.
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The also alleged that neither the official took their consent not consulted them before initiating the land acquisition process. They also accused the government of undertaking "unknown proceedings" and of not assessing the social impact for rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced farmers.
The farmers have also written to the Japan government, alleging the violation of the guidelines of the Japanese agency which is funding the project.
Earlier in July this year, the project had faced objection in Maharashtra from the Godrej Group which had knocked on the door of Bombay High Court against the acquisition of its Vikhroli property. Not only this, the project had also faced resistance from local communities and tribal villages of Palghar district.
The project was launched in September last year by PM Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. The continuous land acquisition hurdles have made slow the ride of the high-speed rail project. The project requires around 1,400 hectares of land in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
The bullet train will run at a speed of 320-350 kmph, and have 12 stations across its 500 km stretch.
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