19-06-2025
Katargam residents protest SMC's land possession drive
Surat: Hundreds of residents from the Katargam area gathered outside the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Thursday, staging a dharna in protest against the civic body's move to take possession of land declared reserved under Town Planning (TP) schemes 49, 50, and 51.
The protesters, many of whom have been residing in the area for over two decades, alleged that their residential societies have been unjustly marked as reserved plots following recent modifications to the TP schemes. A memorandum listing their demands was submitted to deputy mayor Naresh Patil, in the absence of mayor Daxesh Mavani.
The residents argue that although their homes were not under any reservation for years, changes made to the TP schemes three years ago have now left them vulnerable to eviction and land acquisition.
They are demanding that the possession process be immediately halted.
Following the protest, BJP leaders took up the matter with Union jal shakti minister CR Paatil. "The minister assured us that no further steps will be taken to acquire the reserved land. He has also promised to raise the issue with the state government," said Narendra Pandav, a BJP municipal councillor.
Pandav added, "Thousands of people are affected by these changes.
We will urge the govt to investigate what went wrong and demand action against those responsible."
In recent months, former Katargam BJP MLA Nanu Vanani, who also served as a minister of state in Anandi Patel's govt, has extended support to the residents. Vanani has led delegations and made multiple representations to various authorities on the issue.
