Residents from 24 villages in Dhrangadhra taluka in Gujarat have strongly opposed the proposed bio-medical waste treatment plant by Devyogi Healthcare LLP, citing serious concerns over its environmental and health impact. A recent public hearing on the matter saw thousands of villagers in attendance, culminating in the Soladi Gram Panchayat passing a unanimous resolution to block any permissions for the plant’s construction.
The proposed facility, set to be located in Soladi village along the Ahmedabad-Maliya highway, has sparked widespread unrest among the local population. Villagers argue that the plant poses a severe threat to fertile agricultural land, public health, and the surrounding ecosystem. Following the hearing, a delegation, including many women, submitted their objections directly to in-charge minister Mulubhai Bera in Gandhinagar, urging the government to protect the land and environment.
The public hearing, conducted under statutory environmental regulations on 10 October 2024, saw an attendance of approximately 3,000 people. However, only 27 individuals signed the official attendance register. Dipak Patel, Sarpanch of Soladi village, raised concerns about pollution on behalf of the entire village, while former MLA Naushadbhai Solanki questioned the Gujarat Pollution Control Board’s (GPCB) regulatory oversight. Solanki criticized the board’s alleged history of lax enforcement and expressed skepticism over the company's reported investment figures and its ability to safely process waste.
Local leaders emphasized the potential risks posed by the plant to schools, agriculture, and even the region’s biodiversity. The Sarpanch of Jasamatpur Gram Panchayat highlighted that six schools serving thousands of students lie in close proximity to the proposed site. Additionally, concerns were raised about the plant’s impact on the neighbouring military camp and the Wild Ass Sanctuary, a significant ecological zone.
A collective protest letter has been submitted to the Pollution Control Board’s Surendranagar office by several citizens, including Jagabhai, Ramsi Bhai, and Bharat Bhai. In the letter, they emphasized that while the public hearing on 10 October saw massive opposition—with thousands of people donning black bands and waving black flags—their objections were largely ignored.
The signatories argue that the site’s fertile agricultural land supports extensive organic grain and fruit farming, which could be irreversibly damaged by toxic emissions from the plant. Hazardous ash and other pollutants, they claim, would degrade air quality, contaminate groundwater, and endanger crops, livestock, and human health. These environmental hazards, they warn, could lead to severe diseases and long-term harm to future generations.
Despite the widespread opposition, Devyogi Healthcare LLP remains firm in its commitment to moving forward with the project. In response, multiple gram panchayats, including Soladi, have resolved to prevent the plant’s establishment within a 30-km radius of their villages. Local leaders from both the BJP and Congress have also united in their stance against the project, signalling the urgency of the issue across political lines.
With tensions mounting, the villagers have vowed to escalate their opposition through public demonstrations if necessary. They demand that the government reject the proposal outright, reinforcing their commitment to protecting their land, environment, and future generations from the potential dangers posed by the bio-medical waste treatment plant.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to cancel the project
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Other than 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
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
5.2
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.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
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:
Non-consultation with stakeholders
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?
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