Posh Ahmedabad residents continue protest against Nirma "encoaching" play ground, AAP cadres join in

By Our Representative
Bodakdev, a posh locality of Ahmedabad, Gujarat's business capital, has been witnessing an unusual protest since December 26, 2016. Any passer-by can see a temporary stage and tents erected and various posters installed containing slogans and other information.
The protest has been continuing outside the Plot No 391, which is adjacent to Nirma Vidyavihar, a school run by the Nirma Education and Research Foundation. Better known manufacturing soaps and detergents, Nirma is one of the most powerful industrial houses of Gujarat.
According to residents, the establishment of Nirma Vidyavihar has created “a big time problem in Bodakdev”, as the plot, which is owned by the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), has been allegedly encroached upon by the school authorities.
“We have demanded strict action against the school authorities, but to no avail”, they complain.
Sailesh Maheshwari, a Bodakdev resident who is spearheading the protest, says, “The Nirma school was established here eight years ago. They operate from Plot No 390, which was given to them way back in 2001 at about 30% of the actual price of land existing at that time. In 2003 they put in a second application for the adjoining Plot No 391, which measures 6301 square metres.”
Adds Maheshwari, “The second plot, which was used as a playground by children, was given to the Nirma Foundation absolutely free with a returnable deposit of Rs 1.5 lakh. Under the terms, the school authorities were supposed to use the playground during the school hours. As for the rest of the time, it was to be allowed to be used by public at large.”

AUDA notice to Nirma Foundation

However, he claims,“In contravention of the guidelines issued by AUDA, they created a parking space here for nearly 100 cars. Worse, they constructed several concrete structures on this plot, including a nine feet high wall around the periphery of the parking in order to prevent people from entering in.”
“The school authorities further put up padlocks on all the main gates, posting security guards on them to ensured that nobody enters in. They also put up nine different banners all around the periphery suggesting that the playground belongs to them”, says Maheshwari.
“Through this protest”, asserts Maheshwari, “We are pressurizing AUDA to return the playground to the residents of the area. We have also filed a PIL in High Court (PIL No 272 of 2016). However, so far nothing has happened. That is the reason why we are involving more and more people of Bodakdev to join the agitation and come forward to free the playground from the clutches of Nirma”.
On January 9, 2017, a protest walk was organized. Though the police refused permission, the residents walked around 5 kilometres from Nirma Vidyavihar to Ahmedabad International School to create an awareness about the encroachment.
“During the march we were told that similar encroachments have taken place in other parts of the city as well. We have been promised, they too would join in with their issues”, said a participant in the protest walk.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the anti-Nirma agitation may take a political colour. Kanubhai Kalasaria, a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a former BJP MLA, who was earlier involved in activism against the Nirma Cement Plant in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar district, has lent in his his support.
Following Kalsaria, who has been visiting the protesters, other AAP activists have, too, have joined in. One of them, Amish Thaker, told Counterview, “AUDA has accepted that this is an illegal encroachment and has issued four notices to Nirma, threatening to destroy the encroachment. However, nothing has happened so far.”

Comments

Avoidable Narmada floods: Modi birthday fete caused long wait for release of dam waters

Counterview Desk Top advocacy group, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), has accused the Sardar Sarovar dam operators for once again acting in an "unaccountable" manner, bringing "avoidable floods in downstream Gujarat." In a detailed analysis, SANDRP has said that the water level at the Golden Bridge in Bharuch approached the highest flood level on September 17, 2023, but these "could have been significantly lower and much less disastrous" both for the upstream and downstream areas of the dam, if the authorities had taken action earlier based on available actionable information.

Biden urged to warn Modi: US can declare India as worst religious freedom offender

By Our Representative During a Congressional Briefing held on Capitol Hill, Washington DC, Nadine Maenza, former Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has wondered why the Biden administration should raise issues of mass anti-minority mob violence -- particularly in Haryana and Manipur -- with Modi. Modi should be told that if such violence continues, the US will be “compelled by law” to designate India as one of the world’s worst offenders of religious freedom, she urged.

From 'Naatu-Naatu' to 'Nipah-Nipah': Dancing to the tune of western pipers?

By Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD* Some critics have commented that the ecstatic response of most Indians to the Oscar for the racy Indian song, “Naatu-Naatu” from the film, “RRR” reeks of sheer racism, insulting visuals and a colonial hangover. It was perhaps these ingredients that impressed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, one critic says.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Why iconic Urdu book stall, publishing house Maktaba Jamia died an 'unnatural' death

By Firoz Bakht Ahmed* We have all grown through the fragrant flavours and flairs of our childhood, one of them being our childhood mother-tongue historic magazines like, “Thakurmar Jhuli” (Bengali), “Khilauna”, Payam-e-Taleem" (Urdu), “Hans” (Marathi), “Parag” (Hindi), “Chitralekha” (Gujarati), “Chandamama” (Telugu), etc. I “drank” Urdu while suckling his mother and learnt the language not from any madrasa, school or college but from these publications only — my treasure trove!

Asset managers hold '2.8 times more equity' in fossil fuel cos than in green investments

By Deepanwita Gita Niyogi* The world’s largest asset managers are far off track to meet the 2050 net zero commitments , a new study released by InfluenceMap , a London-based think tank working on climate change and sustainability, says. Released on August 1, the Asset Managers and Climate Change 2023 report by FinanceMap, a work stream of InfluenceMap, finds that the world’s largest asset managers have not improved on their climate performance in the past two years.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Evading primary responsibility, ONGC decides to invest Rs 15,000 crore in sick subsidiary

By NS Venkataraman* It is reported that Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will infuse about Rs 15,000 crore in ONGC Petro-additions Ltd (OPaL) as part of a financial restructuring exercise. ONGC currently holds 49.36 per cent stake in (OPaL), which operates a mega petrochemical plant at Dahej in Gujarat. GAIL (India) Ltd has 49.21 per cent interest and Gujarat State Petrochemical Corporation (GSPC) has the remaining 1.43 per cent.

Sales, profits of Indian firms 'deteriorate', yet no significant increase in cost pressures

By Our Representative The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad's (IIM-A's) latest Business Inflation Expectations Survey (BIES), a monthly exercise, has said that while cost perceptions data does not indicate significant increase of cost pressures, sales and profits of the Indian firms have deteriorated.

Why Bangladesh is achieving 'new heights' amidst economic collapse of Pakistan

By Sufian Siddique* Pakistan's economy is on the brink of bankruptcy like Sri Lanka's. Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves have fallen below $3 billion. They have asked the IMF for a 'bailout loan' a long time ago, but the IMF is trying to impose strict conditions that Pakistan's current ruling coalition has no capacity to meet. Even China and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan's long-standing loyal friends, are now reluctant to shoulder Pakistan's burden.

Search This Blog