Mumbai: Farmers of Maharashtra and Gujarat rejoice as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is to provide Rs 88,000 crore aid for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, stops funding of the ambitious bullet train project citing the issue of unresolved matter of land acquisition, as stated by a senior official from Union Finance Ministry.
The farmers in Gujarat had written to the JICA claiming that proper guidelines stipulated by JICA for land acquisition are not being followed by the Central and state agencies.
“We are very happy to know that our pleas have been heard and that the central and state agencies are now asked to resolve the matter of land acquisition with farmers. The bullet train agency has completely ignored the survey on the basis of socio-economic impact in the environment assessment study,” said Jayesh Patel, president of Gujarat farmers association.
The pet project of the Central government is facing obstructions, as after the first instalment of the fund, JICA has not released any fund for the project while asking the Centre to resolve the matter of land acquisition with the farmers
Meanwhile the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), statutory body has questioned the veracity of the reports. “We are currently in the process of surveying the lands. As the construction work starts, we will utilise the remaining fund. Most of the survey in Thane and Palghar areas have already being completed, the process should conclude within two months,” said an official from the NHSRCL.
The estimate cost for the project is Rs 1.08 lakh crore out of which JICA will provide financial aid of Rs 88,000 crore.
