Mahuva Taluka Bhavnagar District Nirma Cement Plant News Gujarat India

Natural resources belong to people, govt only a trustee for future and present generations, allotment can be cancelled if industry violates environmental rules, says panel

Around 1,000 Saurashtra Villagers from across Gujarat participated in a public hearing on the issue of arbitrary land allotment by the state government to the industrial houses, at the Gujarat Vidyapith on Sunday.

A panel of experts at the hearing has made certain recommendations on the issue, which will be forwarded to the Centre and the Gujarat State Government. No invitee from the state government was present during the hearing though.

Villagers from Kutch District, Bhavnagar District, Junagadh District and elsewhere presented their concerns over the state government’s move to allot public and agricultural land to industrial houses. Some of the important issues, which were raised at the hearing, include the allotment of a substantial portion of land, which has been identified as a water body, to Nirma Company Ahmedabad City for a proposed cement plant in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar district.

The villagers also raised their concern over other such allotment for setting up mining, cement, nuclear plants and SEZ projects, before the panel. They explained how the arbitrary allotment of fertile agricultural land has, or can cause serious environmental, food security and employment related problems for them.

Dr Syeda Hameed, a member of the National Planning Commission and a member of the panel said: “There is a lot of merit on the representations made by the villagers at the hearing which have to be heard by the authorities with the utmost urgency.”

For the absence of the invitees from the state government at the hearing, she said it is very disappointing that nobody is present to hear the people’s concern at the hearing.

Among other things, the panel has recommended that Gauchar and wasteland are common village property that cannot be allotted to any private body or a company, and that it should be restored to the gram sabha.

The panel also recommended that the allotment of land should be cancelled if the industrial house has been found violating environmental and other rules.

The panel also held that natural resources belong to the people. Under the doctrine of public trust the government is only a trustee for the future and present generations. As such these resources should be protected.

Other members of the panel were nuclear physicist Dr Surendra Gadekar, Gandhi Peace Foundation Chair person Radha Bhatt, Gujarat Vidyapith VC Dr Sudarshan Iyengar and senior Supreme Court advocate Sanjay Parikh.

Bhavnath Temple Mela Fair Shivratri Festival Junagadh City News Gujarat India

This year at, Bhavnath Mela, Cultural events to add excitement.

Government of Gujarat has organized variety of events during Maha Shivratri Festival Fair 2010 of Bhavnath Mandir in Junagadh City this month.

The cultural programmes will be kicked off in the evening of 8th February. Shree Hariom Pancholi group will present a Shiv Tandav Natika.

On 9th February evening, shri Kirtidan Gadhvi, Rasik Bagthariya and Haji Ramakdu will present Alakh Ni Aradhana programme. On 10th February Shri Dhirubhai Sarvaiya will present laughter programme. On same day shree Bharatdanbhai Gadhvi will present folk tales.

On 11th February, Shri Hardev Raval, Manjulaben Goswami and Mansuridas Desai will present Lok Dayro.

Meanwhile Junagadh District Administration has fixed rickshaw fair during Bhavnath Temple Fair.

Kesar Mango Keri Talala Junagadh District News Gujarat India

Unlike last year, when poor flowering of mango trees had reduced the fruit’s crop in the state, growers in Gujarat are expecting a bumper mango crop this summer. The flowering season of mango trees is at its peak and, according to horticulturists, mango trees in the state have flowered satisfactorily. In fact, the flowering has been so timely that nearly 80% of the crop has already started budding.

Kesar Mango growers are confident that even if the weather turns hostile for a short period, the size and quality of the crop will not be adversely affected. Last year, bad weather had spoiled the prospects of the mango crop from the very beginning, making the fruit very expensive for ordinary people.

“As nearly 80% of the flowering has already taken place, we believe we will have a good mango crop this year,” said DP Patel, a horticulture officer in Valsad. It is worth mentioning that Valsad City is the heartland of Alphonso (Hafoos) production. Alphonso is the most sought after mango variety of the state.

Mango growers, however, say that the first two weeks of February will be very crucial. If the weather does not deteriorate, mangoes will be available this year in abundance and at affordable prices.

Ajit Desai is chairman managing director of Desai Fruits and Vegetables, a leading fruit exporter of Navsari. He said the problem with the mango crop last year started with the flowering.

“There was only 20% to 25% flowering last year,” he said “But this time it looks normal. Therefore, we expect the volume and quality of the mango crop this year to be fine.” Desai, too, said that everything depends on the weather conditions in the next 2-3 weeks.

“The crop of the local and exotic varieties of mangoes in the state will also be good this summer,” said MC Varshneya, vice-chancellor of Anand Agricultural University. “Good weather conditions for the mango crop prevailed in December. That has helped a lot.”Even in Saurashtra, where Kesar Keris are grown on a large scale, growers of the fruit are expecting a good crop this season.

Kesar growers in Junagadh and Talala, too, are optimistic. “If the weather continues to cooperate, you can expect Kesar from Junagadh and Talala Taluka to arrive in the markets in May,” said Dhirubhai Bhakhar, president of Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, Junagadh District. “But we can’t say anything about prices at this juncture.”