Diamantaires suggest new venue for gems bourse

SURAT: Faced with criticism and agitation by farmers and NGOs crusading for green environment in the city, diamond barons, who were lobbying with the state government for 2 lakh square metre of Navsari Agriculture University (NAU) land at Ghod Dod Road for the proposed Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB), have now decided to back off.
They have approached the state government with a fresh proposal for land at the ?Green City' to come up at a 1,000-acre land in Rundh.The diamond barons want a 3-lakh-square-metre land to be allotted there for them to build a world-class diamond bourse. A final decision is expected to be taken by chief minister Anandiben Patel on the proposal on Tuesday.
Last month, Gujarat Khedut Samaj (GKS) had threatened to launch a farmers' agitation and Surat Nature Club, Life Cycling Green and Drashtikon had organized a signature campaign exhorting the residents to support the campaign against the proposal submitted by the diamantaires for the allotment of 2 lakh square metre of land at NAU's agriculture farm at Ghod Dod Road.
Snehal Patel of Surat Nature Club said, "It is a victory for the tens of thousands of people who joined the movement to save the only green cover in Ghod Dod Road area. We are happy that the diamantaires have backed off.'
The diamantaires took the decision after meeting Anandiben Patel, who was in the city on Saturday to review the Gatisheel project.
Sources said the chief minister stayed overnight in the Diamond City after her official tour and went to Gandhinagar on Sunday. The diamantaires met Anandiben with the proposal seeking 3 lakh square metre of land at Rundh.
SDB spokesperson Mathur Savani told TOI, "The state government is coming up with a green city project at Rundh on the lines of GIFT city in Ahmedabad on 1,000 acre of land. This was discussed at the meeting with the chief minister. We have urged the state government to allot three lakh square metre of land at the Green City for the diamond bourse, which the chief minister has accepted."
He said a SDB delegation is going to Gandhinagar to meet Anandiben Patel for a final discussion.
"The Green City is going to be a business hub for the Diamond City. Along with SDB, there will be other businesses like textile, garment, fabric export house etc at the Green City. The chief minister has asked all the department heads in the industry and commerce department to remain present at Tuesday's meeting in Gandhinagar," Savani added.