MLA’s letter to BJP top brass over shrimp farms draws ire of local unit

Patel said in the letter that he first informed Bharuch Collector Avantika Singh Aulakh about the illegal farms and their potential to foment tension on April 10, 2014. “(BJP) MLAs Atmaram Parmar (Gadhadha), Raja Patel (Choryasi) and Mukesh Patel (Olpad) made representations before Chief Minister (Anandiben Patel) and the probe was stalled after that,” he said in the letter.

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He also claimed that his name was unnecessarily being dragged in the illegal shrimp farming business. Patel’s brother Vallabh has been booked in one of Hansot riot cases.

After the riots, the Bharuch district administration is in the process of destroying the farms and prohibiting the Aliya Bet area which is said to be the home to some 1,500 farms of which 70 per cent are illegal. This is the point where the Narmada river meets the sea.

According to Patel, after his tip-off, Aulakh had directed Vagra taluka Mamlatdar I A Panchal and Kaldhara village sarpanch Ramesh Yadav to make a spot visit and report back.

“At that time, a historysheeter from Hansot Sabir Kanungo and his associates who take protection money from the shrimp pond owners, beat up the sarpanch and force them to leave the place”, stated Patel’s letter.
A complaint had been registered at Marine police station in Dahej on April 19 2014 in this connection. The district administrative officials of Bharuch again went to Aliya Bet on May 31, 2014, and surveyed the entire area and later they reported it to district collector, the next day.

Patel further added, CM Anandiben Patel came to Bharuch for a government event and held a review meeting with the district administrative officials and local BJP leaders. “We again raised the issue of illegal shrimp farming business in Aliya Bet and mafia activities going over there, on October 16, 2014, but no action was taken which led to the communal riots in Hansot and other villages in which two innocent lives were claimed., and I am being held responsible for the riots”, stated the letter.

He claims that he never gave up and again on December 29, 2014, made representations to state general secretary of BJP Bharatsinh Parmar, secretary Chhatrasinh Mori and CM Anandiben Patel and demanded strict action against the illegal shrimp farming business at Aliya Bet near Hansot.

Talking to The Indian Express, Patel said, “I am held responsible for the riots that took place on January 14 in Hansot, Ambheta and other villages. I have earlier made representations to Bharuch district collector and even CM, but till now nothing has been done. I have written letter to state BJP general secretary Bhikhu Dalsania and requested him to look into the issue of illegal shrimp farming business and find out whose ponds are there cancel the lease of all the shrimp ponds and take strict actions against the Mafia’s involved in it.

“At present, it has become difficult for me to clarify my image among the people staying in my constituency area, if my party higher leaders take some actions into the illegal shrimp ponds business than it would be good for me also.”

Choryasi MLA Raja Patel, when contacted, said, “All the allegations made by Ishwar Patel is baseless. He is facing allegations made by people of his constituency about him being responsible for the rise in illegal shrimp pond business and to save his skin, he is taking our names. We are ready to face any action if he prove our names are involved in stopping the investigations of illegal shrimp ponds.” Aulakh couldn’t be contacted despite repeated attempt.

Modhwadia demands action against owners of illegal shrimp farms

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Arjun Modhwadia has demanded strict legal and criminal action against the owners of 1,200 illegal shrimp farms that were operating in Alia Bet island in Bharuch district. In an open letter to Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, the Congress leader alleged that the illegal shrimp business in Alai Bet has been thriving for the last five years with annual turnover amounting to Rs 4,000 crore.

Alleging that the owners were all from the ruling BJP, Modhwadia asked the CM to “end political patronage extended to them and initiate tough action against them”.

“While the politicians in Gandhinagar patronised the shrimp mafias operating in Alai Bet, the local administration in-charge of protecting the island and its environment overlooked the illegal activity because of the political back-up to them,” alleged the Congress leader.