The farmers opposing a cement plant to be constructed by Nirma Ltd in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar on Thursday rejected the company’s offer to release 46ha of land in order to reach an amicable solution to the ongoing conflict.

The decision of the farmers were conveyed to the division bench of Gujarat high court comprising Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhaya and Akil Kureshi, by their lawyers.

The lawyers representing Nirma Ltd had made an verbal proposal of surrendering 46ha during the last hearing on April 1.

Nirma was given 268 hectares land for setting up a cement plant besides over 3,000ha for mining lease in the surrounding area across the coastline in Bhavnagar district.

From its 268ha plot, the company has already surrendered 54 hectares to the government.

The farmers from Mahuva taluka have come together and filed a petition under the aegis of Shree Mahuva Bandhara Khetiwadi Pariyavaran Ran Bachav Samiti opposing Nirma Ltd’s cement.

According to them, out of the 268ha land alloted to the company, 222 hectares was part of a reservoir.