Farmers Protest Against Dahod Airport: Five Villages, Including Tadhagola, Oppose Land Acquisition and Airport Construction

The issue of the Dahod Airport has heated up once again. People from five villages in the Jhalod taluka gathered at the Collector’s office in protest. They arrived to submit a representation to the Collector regarding land acquisition for the domestic airport. Farmers from Tadhagola, Chhayan, Sharda, Gultora, and Kaligam Gujarat expressed their opposition. 

They also voiced concerns about the potential loss of their villages. They issued a stern warning, stating they would neither give land nor allow the construction of the airport. The youth even threatened to sacrifice their lives to prevent the land acquisition for the airport.

Farmers Protest Against Land Acquisition for Dahod Domestic Airport

In the Dahod district, the authorities have conducted a site inspection and survey for land acquisition for the domestic airport. The survey was carried out on private land in the survey numbers of five villages in the Jhalod taluka. 

Following this, farmers from these villages once again submitted a petition to the Dahod Collector, warning that if the domestic airport is not relocated away from the villages within 15 days, they will resort to an intense protest. They have threatened to take more aggressive measures in the coming days if their demands are not met.

Collector’s Verbal Assurance on Airport Location in Forest Land

Farmer Mukesh Damore from Tadhagola village in Jhalod taluka shared that the government has started the survey for building the airport in their village. While the government had previously mentioned that the airport would be constructed on forest land, the airport map clearly shows it being located within Tadhagola village. 

When the survey was conducted by the Airport Authority, the villagers raised their objections, leading to the Collector’s visit. The Collector verbally assured the villagers that the airport would be built on forest land and that no private lands in the village would be affected. However, the authorities have not provided any written confirmation to this effect.

Mukesh further expressed concern, citing that their lands had already been taken for the Kadi-2 Dam and the Corridor project. If the airport is built, the farmers of their village would have no land left, rendering them landless and without livelihood. He stated that they would not give up their land for the airport and would strongly oppose the government’s decision to build the airport in their village.

Farmer’s Strong Opposition to Dahod Airport, Threatens Self-Harm

Farmer Arvind Bhuriya, who came to submit a petition to the Collector in Jhalod to protest the airport project, expressed strong opposition to the new airport project approved for Tadhagola village. He stated that they are indigenous tribal people who have lived in the area since ancient times, and now the government seeks to take away their homes. 

He raised concerns about the future of their children, who would be left homeless. He accused the government of trying to destroy their homes in the name of development.

He drew a parallel to Mahatma Gandhi’s famous “Do or Die” slogan, saying that they, as tribal people, would unite and take a similar stand to protect their lands. 

Arvind further threatened that if the airport project is not canceled, they would resort to self-harm, as they are unwilling to give up even an inch of their land. He concluded by saying that they would engage in a fierce protest with the rallying cry “Do or Die” and “Die or Let Me Die,” warning the government of their resolve.

Farmer’s Strong Protest Against Airport, Ready to Sacrifice Lives

Farmer Raman Bariya from Tadhagola village in Jhalod taluka voiced strong opposition to the decision to build the airport in their village. He emphasized that water, forest, and land are their lives, and they have been living and surviving on their ancestral land. He stated that they, as the original owners of the land, are deeply connected to it.

Raman declared that they are ready to die for their land, and even prepared to hang themselves in protest if necessary. He made it clear that they would rather sacrifice their lives than give up their land. He ended by asserting that they would not let go of their land under any circumstances, even if it meant taking drastic steps.

Opposition to Delhi-Mumbai National Corridor and Dahod Domestic Airport

Following the opposition to the Delhi-Mumbai National Corridor passing through Jhalod taluka, the local villagers have once again raised their voices against the proposed Dahod Domestic Airport. Farmers from Tadhagola, Chhayan, Sharda, Gultora, and Kaligam villages in Jhalod taluka had earlier protested against the authorities during the site inspection and survey for the domestic airport. The local farmers expressed their concerns and objections to the project.

In response, Dahod district collector visited the farmers to hear their representations. Despite the collector’s visit, the issue has once again sparked controversy, with the matter still in dispute among the villagers and authorities.

Allegations of a Conspiracy to Seize Land for Dahod Domestic Airport

In a petition submitted to the Dahod district collector, farmers from Jhalod have raised serious concerns about the potential loss of their lands and homes due to the construction of the domestic airport. They stated that they are opposing the airport project as it threatens to take away their land, violating their constitutional rights. 

According to the farmers, no one has the right to seize their land, and they accused the authorities of plotting to take private lands under the guise of the airport project. The farmers strongly oppose this alleged conspiracy to forcibly acquire their lands.

Farmers Threaten Intense Protest Against Dahod Domestic Airport

Farmers from the region have expressed their concerns about the construction of the Dahod Domestic Airport, questioning what benefit it would bring to them. They argued that, on the contrary, the airport project would result in significant losses for them. Living in joint families, they rely on their agricultural land and homes for their livelihood. 

The farmers stated that if the government truly wants to develop the farming community, it should focus on providing proper access to water from the Kadana and Narmada dams.

The farmers have made it clear that they strongly oppose the survey for the airport. They have demanded that within 15 days, the project be canceled and relocated to another forest land. If no such announcement is made, they warned that all farmers in Dahod district would unite and launch an intense protest in the coming days.

Why is Dahod Domestic Airport Important?

The Dahod Domestic Airport, being constructed in Jhalod taluka, will serve as a central hub connecting major cities like Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Indore, and Udaipur. According to the map, the distances from Jhalod’s airport to these airports are as follows: 120 km to Vadodara, 160 km to Ahmedabad, 160 km to Indore, and 210 km to Udaipur. This strategic location is expected to improve connectivity in the region.

Study of Geographic and Environmental Conditions for Dahod Domestic Airport

A survey has been conducted to study the geographic conditions for the construction of a Domestic Airport in four villages near National Highway 56 in Jhalod taluka, Dahod district. The Airport Authority of India formed a team for this survey, under the supervision of Aman Saini (GM), Ramniwas Kumawat (AGM), and Mohsin Kamal (AGM). Ishwarbhai Desai from the Gulsail department was appointed as the nodal officer for the project.

After studying the environmental conditions of the area, a geographic survey was completed, and a map was created. The survey indicates that 4190 acres of land will be required for the construction of the airport.

Description in the Geographic Survey Map

The geographic survey map for the Dahod Domestic Airport includes detailed information about the airport ground and runway. The map provides images of the area, descriptions of the climate, and the surrounding regions. 

It also highlights the connectivity of Dahod Airport with other major airports, such as the domestic airports in Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Udaipur (Rajasthan), and Indore (Madhya Pradesh), as well as the international airport in Ahmedabad. This map offers a comprehensive view of the airport’s location and its strategic connections.

Preparation for Protest Against Domestic Airport

Based on the entire geographical conditions of the taluka, various maps have been created depicting the possible area for the airport and the runway site. 

While the map has been prepared, before the land acquisition process begins, the residents of Jhalod taluka, including those from Tadhagola, Sharda, Gultora, and Chhayan, are strongly opposing the construction of the domestic airport due to the fear of losing their land. The opposition has intensified as they prepare for a protest against the airport project.