Guj Govt's decision to sell land of farm research centre faces ire

Surat, Mar 18 (UNI) A recent decision by the Gujarat government to sell the land of internationally renowned farm research centre of Navasari Agricultural University here for tourism-related activities has invited protests from various sectors.

Surat District Congress committee spokesperson Salim Ghadiyali told UNI today that the state government had decided to sell the land to a non-resident Indian businessman to start a hotel.

''Congress MLA Manish Gillitwala protested this in the Gujarat Assembly and now the government says that they are willing to invite tenders,'' he said.

The Congress-backed farm organisations alleged that though they were not against development projects, they fear that the move would affect the functioning of the internationally renowned institution.

On contacted, the research centre authorities refrained from responding. However, the move will definitely affect cotton research in Gujarat, sources added.

Gujarat is the leading cotton producing state in the country, with an average yearly production of 528 kg of cotton. The national average is 440 kg.

The research centre is one of the country's formost agricultural research centres and one of the world's renowned cotton research centres.

The institute, established in 1896, had won a number of international awards and is considered to be a major force in promoting cotton farming in the South Gujarat region.

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