Maha to ensure better compensation for farmers affected by power projects: Minister
Mumbai, July 2
Maharashtra Minister of State for Energy Meghna Sakore-Bordikar on Thursday announced in the Legislative Assembly that power transmission infrastructure projects in the state will proceed only after ensuring fair and beneficial compensation for affected farmers.
She was responding to a Calling Attention Motion moved by MLA Sunil Shelke, which saw active participation from legislators Yogesh Sagar, Abhijit Patil and others.
Highlighting the historical evolution of compensation norms, MoS Bordikar noted that prior to 2010, farmers received no compensation for power transmission work on their lands. A policy introduced in 2010 initially provided compensation at 25 per cent, 50 per cent and 65 per cent of the market rate in phases.
This was revised in 2017 to provide compensation equivalent to double the Ready Reckoner rate for tower base land and 15 per cent compensation for the Right of Way (RoW) under transmission lines.
The Minister said that under the revised policy introduced in 2022, the compensation framework has been significantly enhanced. For transmission towers, land used for tower bases is compensated on the basis of the market rate, the Ready Reckoner rate, or the average of the highest land transaction rates in that village over the previous three years, whichever is higher.
For transmission lines under the Right of Way, compensation for the land falling directly beneath the lines has been doubled from the earlier 15 per cent to 30 per cent.
"The land ownership remains entirely with the farmer; no land acquisition takes place in this process. Furthermore, farmers face no restrictions in continuing their agricultural activities under the transmission lines," MoS Bordikar clarified.
To ensure fairness, a committee headed by the respective District Collector determines compensation rates on the basis of prevailing local market values. The policy also includes a strict timeline for dispute resolution, she said.
She informed the House that farmers can file objections within 30 days of the announcement of compensation rates. District Collectors are mandated to decide on such appeals within 60 days.
Illustrating the impact of the policy, the Minister cited the example of Khujgaon Khurd village. While the base land rate there stands at Rs 1,998.83 per square metre, farmers are being paid Rs 3,997.66 per square metre for tower bases and Rs 599.65 per square metre for land falling under transmission lines.
Addressing concerns regarding potential losses to smallholders and tribal farmers holding government-allotted land, MoS Bordikar said the government was treating the matter with utmost seriousness.
She added that high-level meetings would soon be convened with the District Collectors of Palghar and Thane to review these specific cases and formulate additional protective measures.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Encouraging to see the government finally acknowledging the plight of farmers. The 2010 policy was a joke - paying only 25% of market rate? Even the 2017 revision was inadequate. But I'm still skeptical about the 30-day objection window. Most small farmers in rural areas are not literate enough to navigate such timelines. The government should have mobile teams helping them file appeals.
As someone who works in the power sector, I can say this is a balanced approach. The state needs electricity infrastructure, but not at the cost of destroying livelihoods. Keeping land ownership with farmers while compensating them fairly is the right way. That example of Khujgaon Khurd village - Rs 3,997 per square metre for tower base is almost double the base rate! Voted wisely for once 😅
My family is from Palghar district and I've seen first-hand how tribal farmers were exploited earlier. They were given nothing for power lines passing right through their small plots. So glad to hear the Minister is taking these cases seriously and planning meetings with District Collectors. Just please ensure the compensation reaches the actual farmers, not some middlemen.
Interesting policy shift. In Canada, we have strict regulations for utility corridors and farmers are compensated based on land value assessments. This Indian model seems to be catching up - particularly the no-land-acquisition clause and the 60-day dispute resolution timeline. But I'm curious how they'll handle the thousands of pending cases from the pre-2010 era? That's the real injustice.
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