In January 2017, Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Limited (GHCL) signed an MoU during Vibrant Gujarat Summit for a Green Field Chemical complex in Bada village of Kachchh district in Gujarat. The project, however, ignited fierce protests from local communities and environmentalists, who raised concerns over livelihoods and its adverse impact on biodiversity-rich region.
GHCL plans to establish a sprawling chemical complex spanning 1,340 acres. The facility will include a soda ash plant with an annual production capacity of 11 lakh tonnes, a dense soda ash unit producing 5 lakh tonnes, a baking soda unit producing 2 lakh tonnes, and a coal-based 120 MW captive power plant. The project also entails the use of 16 lakh cubic meters of seawater daily, of which 15.80 lakh cubic meters will be treated and discharged back into the sea via underground pipelines.
The project has faced regulatory hurdles and strong opposition from residents. A 2022 report based on RTI documents accessed by the Probe the documents contained information which was in gross contrast to the claims put forth in the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report that has been prepared by the project proponent. In December 2022, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) stalled the setting up the soda ash manufacturing plant over inadequacies in the environmental clearance process. However, the project received the environmental clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in December 2024, paving the way for GHCL’s ambitious Rs 3,500 crore investment.
The company has acquired over 70 percent of the land in Bada village, but public hearings mandated under environmental regulations have faced significant backlash. Protests by villagers led to the cancellation of two public hearings. One hearing was adjourned within 15 minutes due to intense opposition, while another lasted until midnight amidst heated debates.
Residents from 20 villages, led by gram panchayats of Bada, Mapar, and Bhinsara, have vocally opposed the project, citing the destruction of grazing lands, agriculture, and animal husbandry—the primary livelihoods of the region. Approximately 300 acres of the project site are grazing land that support cattle from four surrounding villages. Villagers argue that the chemical plant will pollute air, water, and soil, exacerbating ecological damage and threatening local biodiversity.
In Bada village of Mandvi taluka, residents staged a unique protest against GHCL by symbolically holding a "funeral procession" for the company, followed by a sit-in to pay homage. United in their opposition, the community voiced their concerns, asserting that the arrival of GHCL would spell disaster for the region. The villagers warned that if the company's plant becomes operational, the fertile lands of Nandanvan and Mandvi would turn barren, severely impacting agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, and local livelihoods.
Environmentalists and local fishing communities expressed concerns about the potential disruption to nesting sites of sea turtles and other marine species along the coastline between Mandvi and Abdasa.
While the proponents argue that the project will bring industrial development and employment opportunities, locals counter that the costs far outweigh the benefits.
Villagers have refused all corporate social responsibility (CSR) offers from the company and have returned any assistance previously provided. Banners across villages declare "GHCL unwelcome".
Despite numerous petitions to local authorities, including the District Collector, officials have largely remained unresponsive to the villagers’ concerns. GHCL representatives have also refrained from addressing the ongoing protests. According to Bhagirath Singh Zala, the Mandvi-Mundra Provincial Officer, all objections have been forwarded to the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) for consideration under the Environmental Protection Act.
The conflict in Bada highlights the tensions between industrial development and environmental conservation. While GHCL’s project promises significant economic gains, the strong resistance from local communities underscores the importance of addressing socio-environmental concerns.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to cancel the project
Opposition against environmental degradation
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Grazing, Other environmental services
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Data Unavailable
Source/Reference
<https://theprint.in/environment/flawed-eia-stalls-rs-3500-cr-gujarat-chemical-plant-project-that-sparked-pollution-fears/1286280/>
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
3500
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Violation of environmental laws
Violation of free prior informed consent
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
