The residents of Anwarpura village of Sami taluka in Patan district have stalled the proposed plan of Gujarat State Fertilisers & Chemicals Limited (GSFC) to grow Jatropha plant (used for producing bio-diesel) on the 132-acre gauchar land in the village.

GSFC had earlier rejected the proposal by the Anwarpura gram panchayat to distribute land among the landless farmers in the village and cultivate Jatropha in partnership with the company.

It all started a few years ago when almost 600 acres of gauchar land in the village was handed over to the Gujarat State Land Development Corporation (GSLDC) by the Anwarpura gram panchayat, for cultivation of the Jojoba plant used in production of aviation fuel. As that plan did not materialise, GSLDC transferred the entire land to GSFC for Jatropha cultivation without the consent of the villagers.

In December last year, GSFC started working towards Jatropha cultivation in 132 acres of the land by carrying out boring works for tube well construction. This led to widespread protests in the village and the company had to suspend its work. As of now, negotiations are on between the villagers and GSFC, but nothing concrete has emerged so far.

Chunni Vaidya, president of the Gujarat Lok Samiti, the organisation that led the protests, said: “As an alternative, we have suggested that GSFC should distribute 132 acres of land amongst the landless farmers in the village, who can put in their labour and grow Jatropha, with the company providing the technical expertise, fertilisers, seeds, water etc.”

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