The Gujarat government has taken a big decision after farmers’ agitation on the issue of power line poles in Jetpar village of Morbi. Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani has announced to pay compensation to the farmers at double the price of jantri.
Gandhinagar: As the agitation of farmers over the construction of pylons for power lines in Morbi’s Jetpar village has intensified, an important and historic decision has been taken by the Gujarat government regarding the return of power lines and towers passing through farms, taking into account the representations of farmers’ organizations.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi, Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani, Energy Minister Rishikesh Patel and Minister of State for Energy Kaushik Vekaria have taken an important and generous decision by discussing, brainstorming and consulting with the farmers and keeping the economic interests of the farmers at the forefront. Under which the government has announced an increase in the compensation given to farmers for erecting power lines and power towers passing through farms. With this decision, lakhs of farmers of the state will get fair and market-based compensation for their land.
State Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani held a press conference regarding this. In which he said, after 10 to 12 consecutive days of marathon meetings between the Chief Minister, Energy Minister and higher officials, a major increase in the compensation rates has been announced to protect the economic interests of farmers.
For electricity lines passing through farmers’ fields, till now farmers were paid twice the rate of jantri (200 per cent) for laying electricity poles or lines in the fields. That time, based on the requests received from various farmers’ organizations, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel made a major amendment, and decided to pay twice the current market rate of the land, not based on jantri, but in the interest of the farmers.
Apart from that, till now the compensation was given according to the actual measurement of the base area of the power tower laid in the field. Henceforth more compensation will be paid by calculating an additional one meter on each side of the base area of the tower for the benefit of the farmers.
For example; In 765 KV line earlier compensation was paid per 625 square meter article, which will henceforth be increased to 729 square meter article by calculating additional one meter on each side.
Regarding compensation to landowners earlier, 40 per cent at foundation stage, 40 per cent at erection and 20 per cent after laying of wires were paid as per amount, instead it is stipulated to pay compensation to landowners at once and in advance.
In order to determine the real market value of farmers’ land in a neutral and transparent manner, MRC was introduced by the state government. (Market Rate Committee) will be formed.
The special thing is that the representative of the affected farmers and the authorized market valuer of the farmers will also be placed in this committee, so that there is no injustice to the farmers. The market rate determination committee will also have a collector, a representative of the landowners and a representative of the transmission service provider.
On the other hand, compensation will be provided area wise based on the market price determined by MRC for right of way corridors of power lines. In which compensation will be given as per 30 percent of market price in rural areas, 45 percent of market price in municipal areas and 60 percent of market price in metropolitan areas.
The state government, showing generosity in this decision, has made it clear that all the farmers who have earlier received compensation as per the old price, but the power line work is still in progress, will be eligible to benefit from this policy.
