Keshubhai's fiat on relocation upsets many in Bhuj

Keshubhai's fiat on relocation upsets many in Bhuj
D.V. MAHESHWARI

BHUJ, MARCH 13: Quake-hit residents of Bhuj have dismissed the state government's relocation plan. They would rather rebuild on rubble. Blame it on an impulsive fiat issued by Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel here last weekend, but the Bhuj administration is heading towards a showdown with its citizens.

Leaders of various communities which have lived for long in the walled city of Bhuj, had rushed to Keshubhai's camp at Umed Bhavan, the government Circuit House, on Saturday evening to tell him about their harrowing experience. Many, including members of the Rajgor Samaj, had also complained of discrimination in resettlement. An annoyed Chief Minister asked the administration ``to oust'' residents who had re-entered the old city by disconnecting their power and water connections.

``We have no other option but to obey his instructions,'' Additional Collector M.H. Gadhavi said when contacted on Monday. The administration is likely to have its hands full with this task for around 1,500 to 2,000 people -- under the aegis of newly constituted Bhuj Rehabilitation Committee -- decided to enter the old city on March 15, ``come what may''.

Committee members had also decided to take out a rally on March 15 and hand over a memorandum to the district administration, demanding permission to start living in the old city houses that were left intact despite the earthquake, immediate removal of debris of fallen houses, resumption of gutter, water, power and telephone connections in the old city, and declaration of the housing package by March 25.

The movement for resettlement in the old city against the government's relocation plan has been joined by leaders of many communities.

Similarly, residents of Bhachau town, 80 km east of Bhuj, are also on the warpath against relocation. They have formed a rehabilitation committee and met the Chief Minister at Bhachau on Sunday to hand over a resolution passed by the Gram Sabha asking for resettlement ``only at the old site''.

Their other demands included immediate removal of rubble from the city with the help of Army and other agencies.