SURAT: An awareness movement to inform citizens about adverse effects of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) has been launched by National Alliance of People's Movement (NAPM). As part of the campaign social activists have taken out a 'Sangharsh Yatra' from Mumbai to Delhi. Participating members of NAPM reached Surat on Wednesday and met farmers to make them aware about effects of DMIC.

Madhuresh Kumar, national organiser of NAPM, claimed that DMIC is not purely an industrial development project but its fate will be like Noida's which will benefit only realtors. "In the name of industrial development, only real estate companies will grow in this project. Further, it is a major threat to environment and only a handful of people would gain through it," said Kumar.

He said, "The entire project is being undertaken undemocratically in which land acquisitions are questionable. One of the major problems created by the DMIC project will be water and food security."

NAPM is protesting DMIC due to its adverse effects on local population, farming and environment. While opposing the project NAPM is demanding policies and laws that protect agriculture. "Equal amount of revenue can be generated through agricultural development and modernisation in agriculture. Major part of DMIC is under cultivation and needs protection to avoid agrarian crisis," added Kumar, a former Delhi University student and a native of Bihar.

The NAPM members, who are participating in the Yatra include, Lingraj Azad from Nemgiri Suraksha Parishad of Odisha, Krishnakant Chauhan and Swati Desai of Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, Ahmedabad, Atik Ahmed of Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, Mumbai, Yuvraj Nilay of Nivedita Ashram and Milind Champanerkar, documentary filmmaker from Mumbai. The Yatra will reach Ahmedabad on Thursday and end in New Delhi on March 18. An open meeting of farmers and farm labourers has been organised in New Delhi on March 18.

Another group of committee members visited Rajpipla on Wednesday and shared their views with farmers. "I think the DMIC project is not in favour of farmers and I oppose it along with the farmers of the region. We strongly object the project and the opposition will get momentum in near future," said Jayesh Patel, general secretary of Gujarat Khedut Samaj. Patel contested assembly elections as Congress candidate in December 2012 from Olpad constituency of Surat but lost against BJP candidate.