30-acre land worth ₹120 cr taken back from private firm in Surat

The Surat district administration has ordered the repossession of 30 acres of grazing land allotted to Rama Newsprint and Papers Ltd in 1992, citing a breach of allotment conditions. 

The company failed to develop an equivalent area of land for grazing use as required under the terms of the grant. The land, located in Barbodhan village of Olpad taluka, is now valued at more than ₹120 crore.

The action follows a seven-year campaign by villagers, who first filed a formal complaint with the District Collector in 2018. In his recent order, District Collector Dr Saurabh Pardhi confirmed that the company neither fulfilled the condition of developing alternative gauchar land nor paid the 40% of the government-assessed (jantri) value as stipulated under a 2015 revenue policy. 

Land allotted with condition to replace grazing area

In 1992, Rama Newsprint was allotted land from survey block numbers 1054 and 1055 in Barbodhan with the condition that it must develop a separate 30-acre tract suitable for grazing, at its own expense. However, the company failed to take any action after occupying the land.

Villagers, including Yogendra Patel and Hitesh Patel, along with the Barbodhan gram panchayat, lodged a complaint on October 19, 2018. Subsequent reports from the Olpad Mamlatdar and the Prant Officer confirmed the company’s failure to comply.

Collector’s order cites breach and revenue policy

Under Gujarat’s gauchar (grazing) land management policy dated April 1, 2015, any party failing to provide alternative grazing land must pay 40% of the jantri rate. Rama Newsprint did not submit a written commitment to this requirement, further strengthening the case for repossession.

Following a hearing, the Collector ordered that the 30 acres be restored to government control and returned to its original status as grazing land.

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