Even as the Government of Gujarat celebrates the arrival of Tata Motors’ Nano plant, rumblings of discontent are gradually becoming louder among a section of farmers from villages near the proposed site in Sanand.

In a refrain that echoes the concerns of the farmers at Singur, a number of villagers are beginning to bring up issues regarding land rights and compensation. Farmers from Khoda, Bhod, Amareli and Modasar are staking their claim on the 1,100 acres that has been given to the Tatas for the Nano factory, saying that the land belonged to their forefathers.

“During the great famine, our forefathers gave the land to the British government on lease for 100 years so it could be used as a grazing ground,” claims Meghrajsinh Chauhan from Bhod. “When we asked for the land in 2002, we were told that the government had acquired it in 1911. Since then we have been running from pillar to post to get our land rights, but no one has ever heard us,” he says.

Although Chauhan is quick to add that the farmers have nothing against the Tatas or the Nano plant being set up here, he makes it clear that the farmers expect more benefits. “We are the real owners of the land and we have got nothing in the deal. We should get our share of compensation too. We’ll fight till the last for our rights,” he asserts, adding that the Anand University campus was also built on the farmers’ land.

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