Palanpur: Farmers and residents from around 20 villages in the area have expressed strong resentment over the decision to impose toll tax on the movement of local vehicles at the Khemana Toll Plaza. The toll plaza management recently announced that even local farmers would now have to pay the toll, a move that has triggered widespread anger.

Following the statement made by the toll plaza manager, farmers declared their intention to launch a larger agitation. They have warned that if locals are not exempted from paying the toll, they will march onto the national highway with their cattle. Thousands of farmers are expected to gather for a protest on August 18, vowing to continue their agitation until the exemption is restored.

Farmers argue that people living within 20 km of the toll plaza should be given toll-free passage, but the toll plaza management denies any such provision.

One local resident, voicing his outrage, said, “This is the holy month of Shravan, and when we visit the Mahadev temple, they are charging us this tax, which is nothing short of Jaziya Kar—the tax once imposed by the Mughals on Hindu pilgrims. The farmers gave up their land for this highway, and now they are being asked to pay toll just to travel from one farm to another.” DeshGujarat