Encroachment – Gujarat Assembly Acknowledges Land Dispute in Hazira
Encroachment – The Gujarat government has informed the state legislature that ArcelorMittal Steel India occupied government land in Hazira, Surat, without authorization. While legal proceedings have begun under existing revenue laws, no criminal case under land-grabbing provisions has been registered so far.
Government Confirms Unauthorized Occupation
The disclosure was made in a written response during a session of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. The reply came after Congress MLA Amit Chavda sought details regarding alleged misuse of government property in the coastal industrial belt of Hazira.
According to the government’s submission, a significant portion of officially recorded fallow land was found to be under unauthorized possession. Out of approximately 78 hectares of such land, more than 62 hectares were identified as encroached. The findings have brought renewed attention to the management and protection of public land in industrial zones.
Legal Action Initiated Under Revenue Law
Following the detection of the encroachment, authorities initiated action under Section 61 of the Land Revenue Act, 1879. Fifteen separate orders were issued on January 27 and February 11, 2025, aimed at addressing the violation. The state has also moved to impose a penalty amounting to Rs 106.82 crore.
Officials indicated that the penalty proceedings and related legal steps are currently underway. The matter is being handled through established administrative channels under the revenue framework, and further steps will depend on the outcome of these proceedings.
Probe Expands Scope of Alleged Encroachment
The issue widened after an inquiry conducted by the Mamlatdar of Choryasi taluka in Surat district uncovered additional irregularities. The investigation reportedly found encroachment spanning around 173 hectares of unnumbered beach land along with government fallow land. This expanded the scope of the dispute beyond the initial assessment placed before the Assembly.
Based on these findings, nine cases were registered against the company under the same provision of the Land Revenue Act. Officials confirmed that hearings and related procedures are in progress, suggesting that the dispute may continue for some time within the administrative and legal system.
Recovery and Penalty Status Yet to Be Clarified
When asked about the extent of land recovered so far and the amount of penalty collected, the government did not provide specific figures. In its response, it stated that the recovery process remains ongoing. As a result, there is no confirmed data at present on how much of the identified land has been restored to government control or how much of the financial penalty has been realized.
This lack of detailed information has left some questions unanswered regarding the pace and effectiveness of enforcement measures.
Debate Over Absence of Land-Grabbing Case
The matter gained political traction after Amit Chavda raised concerns about the absence of a land-grabbing charge. In Gujarat, cases of illegal occupation are often pursued under stricter land-grabbing laws, particularly when large tracts of government land are involved.
In its clarification, the government stated that no land-grabbing offence has been registered against ArcelorMittal Steel India. Instead, the action has been limited to proceedings under Section 61 of the Land Revenue Act, 1879, which deals specifically with encroachment on government land.
The distinction between encroachment proceedings and a formal land-grabbing case is likely to remain a point of debate in the Assembly. Opposition members have argued that uniform standards should apply in cases involving public property, while the government maintains that it has acted within the legal framework currently applicable to the case.
As the legal process unfolds, the issue underscores broader concerns around land governance, regulatory oversight, and accountability in rapidly industrializing regions such as Hazira in Surat district.