A news item from Gandhi Nagar, Capital of Gujarat State reports that over 250 women were protesting against the upcoming Cement Plant of Nirma Limited in Bhavnagar District and got detained by Police on Friday, March, 18th, 2011. The women were reportedly marching towards the State Assembly in Gandhinagar.
Nirma Limited is building a cement plant with a capacity of 1.91 million tonnes per annum, alongwith its captive power and coke oven plant, near Padhiarka village in Mahuva Taluka of Bhavnagar District. The protesting women alleged that the proposed plant was being built on a natural water body and the proposed cement plant would destroy their agricultural and animal husbandary practices besides causing irreparable damage to the environment.
The said report has however failed to mention the reaction of the political leaders in the State including the Chief Minister who is known for his development goal. India needs development and Vibrant Gujarat intends to attract huge investments from the Corporate Sector.
The hapless citizens and poor farmers are forced to sacrifice their homelands and hearths for the sake of such development. It is a bit disturbing to note that the women folk of Bhavnagar district is forced to take up cudgels with the powerful state government headed by Shri Narendra Modi. As a citizen and well wisher of progressive-minded Chief Minister, one would expect him to strike a balance between development and environment keeping the feelings and aspirations of the poor villagers especially the women folk in mind.
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