Sabarkantha: A long-standing land dispute between farmers of Gujarat and Rajasthan has resurfaced, as former MLA Ashwin Kotwal submitted a petition to the Sabarkantha District Collector on Monday, seeking action against alleged encroachment by farmers from Rajasthan.

According to the petition, several years ago, farmers from border villages in Rajasthan reportedly encroached upon agricultural land belonging to farmers in the Khedbrahma, Poshina, and Vijaynagar talukas of Sabarkantha district. Despite the land being officially registered under the names of Gujarat farmers, the petition claims that farmers from Rajasthan have continued to cultivate the land and are now asserting ownership rights.

Kotwal highlighted that this issue has been pending for years, with no concrete resolution despite multiple discussions between the Gujarat and Rajasthan governments. Officials from both states have previously conducted site inspections and boundary demarcations. However, the alleged illegal occupation by Rajasthan farmers in Gujarat’s border villages remains unaddressed.

“This unresolved dispute has severely impacted the livelihoods of local farmers,” Kotwal stated, adding that the matter falls under the purview of the Gujarat Land Grabbing Act. He urged the district administration to register cases against the encroachers and initiate strict legal action.

The petition demands that the Sabarkantha administration take immediate corrective steps to restore the land to its rightful owners and protect the interests of farmers residing in the border areas of Gujarat. DeshGujarat