SMC’s Surat limit expansion proposal not to include Kamrej villages

SURAT: The administration will only prepare a proposal on bringing seven villages of Olpad taluka in

Surat district

under the jurisdiction of municipal corporation on December 31 for the approval of standing

committee

. The proposal is expected to desist from suggesting that the 11 villages of

Kamrej

taluka in the district also be brought within the city limits.


Standing committee chairman Anil Goplani said, “It was decided at the coordination committee meeting held on Saturday last that the 11 villages of Kamrej taluka should not be brought under the jurisdiction of the municipal corporation whenever the expansion of city limits takes place. A MLA from the area had agreed with the decision and said it should be left to the state government’s discretion.”

“Not bringing Khadsad, Pasodara, Laskana, Khathodara, Valak, Abrama, Kholwad, Navagam, Bhada and Velanja, Saniya Hemad and Saroli villages of Kamrej taluka within the city limits will be a grave mistake. These villages are already under indirect control of SMC. The sewage treatment plant and waste collection in these villages are looked after by the SMC. These villages need to be within the city limits to derive the benefit of development,” a BJP leader said.

Many BJP leaders, who belong to Saurashtra but settled in the city, support Varachha MLA Kumar Kanani who recently wrote to the state government demanding that these 11 villages of Kamrej be brought within the city limits. The diamond association too favours this.

A local BJP leader said at least two lakh people, who are natives of Saurashtra, are settled in these villages and their feelings must be respected. The SMC proposal would mean that these 11 villages, which are located between Surat city and Kamrej, will remain ‘independent avenues’, he added.


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