Stir may take shine out of proposed jewellery park

ICHHAPORE, Surat: Tucked between the diamond city and the industrial belt of Hazira, this village was supposed to shine brightly.
But now, an agitation by farmers threatens to hijack the plan of Asia''s largest jewellery park at Ichhapore here — 10 km from Surat city.
Although the state government had recently sanctioned 22 lakh sqmt of land, at Rs 225 per square metre, farmers opposing the venture say the park will not generate any jobs for them.
In fact, no employment came their way when they gave up their land, which includes the area earmarked for the park, to the GIDC 18 years ago, they complain. This because the entire stretch has remained unused, they added.
Earlier, the government had withdrawn its plan to construct a new jail on the land after a similar protest.
"We have been losing land to big corporates and small-scale industries (SSIs) that have cropped up in this belt. At present, there is hardly any left for us farmers to cultivate. If adequate employment opportunities are not provided, it will become tough for nearly 10,000 people of this village to earn their livelihood," says convenor of Ichhapore Khedut Samaj Janak Patel.
Citing an example, another farmer on condition of anonymity said: "A small-scale industry had acquired my land after promising employment to my children. However, they now deny it. A legal suit has been filed against the company which is still pending. We will not be fooled again and get lured into agreements, like in the past."
"Once the jewellery park is constructed, there will be many other units trying to acquire land near the park. This will pose a serious threat to the remaining agricultural area of our village. Tuwar, jowar, cauliflower, cabbage are some the main produce here. This land should be now earmarked as agricultural land," demanded another farmer Bobby Patel.
Meanwhile, the agitation has left the Surat Diamond Merchants'' Association worried as inquiries are pouring in at their association office and at the Gujarat Hira Bourse regarding the proposed jewellery park.
"The diamond industry requires only skilled labourers. If there are such people in the village, they will be given preference. The village will also be benefitted as the park will usher in development like roads, power and other facilities," says Dinesh Navadia, former vice-president of the Surat Diamond Merchants'' Association.
"Nearly 135 diamond merchants in and around the city have confirmed participation in the park by paying Rs 5 lakh as fee. There is no way that we can retract now," added association president Nanu Vanani.