Adivasis oppose land for SEZs in Dadra

Silvasa, Apr 10 (UNI) Adivasis belonging to Varli community of Dadra&Nagar-Haveli today staged a dharna in front of the District Magistrate's office, protesting against allotment of government land for setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

The dharna was held under the leadership of Dilipbhai Murkhud, a BJP leader who heads Diu, Daman and Dadra Nagar-Haveli Adivasis cell.

In a petition submitted to the Magistrate's office, Mr Murkhud said the government land which is being given for formation of SEZs, was basically meant for cattle grazing. This land also consisted of places of worship of Adivasi deities.

The petition also referred to a government circular dated May 22, 1990, issued by the Administration of Dadra and Nagar-Haveli's Revenue department and signed by Collector R K Verma, which categorically prohibits allotting land earmarked for community use viz, 'Gaucharan' land, village site land and mandi land.

It said the order stipulates ''no government land including surplus land shall be allotted to the department (any government department) for construction or otherwise. No application for allotment of government land will be entertained.'' The petition also said if land acquisition activity of the Dadra Nagar-Haveli administration is not stopped forthwith, the BJP's Adivasi cell would take the issue to the court.

Recently, Alok Industries was given permission to start an apparel park township here. Adivasis contend that since 60 per cent of the three territories (Diu, Daman and Dadra-NH) comprising 491 sq km is forest, the limited land resources bordering their area of cultivation is meant to raise cattle resources. Any indiscriminate industrialisation is bound to affect their source of livelihood.

UNI