An eight-member team of experts from Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) today visited Nirma cement plant being opposed by farmers on various grounds in Mahuva taluka of the district following Supreme Court orders.

The team, comprising C R Babu and director of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Arshard Rehmani and six others, visited the controversial plant and also nearby villages of Samadhiala and Dholiya that are going to be affected by the plant.

The local farmers led by Mahuva MLA of BJP Kanu Kalsariya are opposing the passage of the cement plant-having capacity of 1.91 million tonne per annum-alleging that it was being built on a natural water body and if completed would destroy their agriculture, and animal husbandry, besides causing irreparable damage to environment.

The apex court, while hearing a petition by Mahuva farmers demanding shifting of the plant from its present location, had directed the MoEF in March to send a team of experts to the plant site and assess the ground situation on parameters prescribed by it.

According to district authorities, the team is also likely to visit more villages in vicinity of the plant and assess the grievances of villagers.

Nirma had been awarded 268 hectares of land for setting up of the cement plant besides more than 3,000 hectares on mining lease in the surrounding area across the coastline in Bhavnagar district.

From the 268-hectare plot allotted to it, the company had already surrendered 100 hectares of land to the government.

The local farmers had last year filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in Gujarat High Court opposing the passage of the cement plant contending that out of the 268 hectares of land alloted to the company, 222 hectares was part of a natural water-body.

The High Court, however, gave a go-ahead to Nirma allowing it to continue with construction activity at the site of the plant by rejecting the PIL.

The farmers challenged the HC verdict in Supreme Court following which the apex court ordered a team of experts to visit the place and submit its report.

Meanwhile, the MoEF had on March 12 ordered "permanent suspension of work" with regard to 1.91 million tonne per annum capacity cement plant, along with its captive power and coke oven plant, coming up near Padhiarka village in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar district.

It also directed the Nirma to respond to "why the environmental clearance accorded to the project should not be revoked and stoppage of the work not be made permanent."

Over 5000 framers led by the BJP MLA Kanu Kalsariya had walked over 350 km from Mahuva to Gandhinagar last month to mark their protest against the cement plant and submitted a memorandum to chief minister Narendra Modi.