Maharashtra power projects to proceed only after enhanced compensation for farmers
Maharashtra Minister of State for Energy Meghna Sakore-Bordikar announced on Thursday in the Legislative Assembly that power transmission infrastructure projects will only proceed after ensuring fair and enhanced compensation for affected farmers. The state government plans to convene high-level meetings with the District Collectors of Thane and Palghar to review specific cases concerning smallholders and tribal farmers holding government-allotted land to formulate additional protective measures.
The announcement came in response to a Calling Attention Motion moved by MLA Sunil Shelke. Legislators Yogesh Sagar and Abhijit Patil, among others, also actively participated in the discussion regarding the compensation framework for farmers whose lands are affected by power infrastructure.
During the session, Minister Sakore-Bordikar outlined the evolution of compensation norms in the state. Prior to 2010, farmers received no compensation for power transmission work on their lands. A policy introduced in 2010 provided phased compensation at 25 percent, 50 percent, and 65 percent of the market rate. This was later revised in 2017 to offer double the Ready Reckoner rate for tower base land and 15 percent compensation for the Right of Way under transmission lines.
Under the revised policy introduced in 2022, the compensation framework has been significantly enhanced. For transmission towers, the land used for bases is compensated using the highest value among the market rate, the Ready Reckoner rate, or the three-year average of the highest land transaction rates in that village.
Additionally, compensation for land directly beneath transmission lines under the Right of Way has been doubled from 15 percent to 30 percent. The Minister clarified that land ownership remains entirely with the farmers, no land acquisition takes place, and farmers face no restrictions in continuing agricultural activities under the lines.
To resolve disputes, a committee headed by the respective District Collector determines the compensation rates based on local market values. Farmers can file objections within 30 days of the announcement of the rates, and District Collectors are mandated to decide on these appeals within 60 days.
The Minister cited Khujgaon Khurd village as an example of the policy's impact. In the village, where the base land rate is 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 under transmission lines.
