The Gujarat government has announced a significant change in its compensation policy for agricultural land impacted by power transmission infrastructure. The new policy replaces the previous jantri-based formula with compensation linked to the current market value of the land. Farmers will now receive double the market rate for land used for power transmission lines and towers, with all compensation being paid upfront instead of in instalments.
The decision, made under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s leadership and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi’s guidance, follows consultations with farmers. The revised policy involves key officials like Gujarat Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani, Energy Minister Rushikesh Patel, and Minister of State for Energy Kaushik Vekariya. Previously, compensation for transmission lines passing through agricultural land was based on 200% of the jantri value, the government’s land valuation.
Under the new policy, compensation will be calculated at twice the prevailing market value, addressing concerns raised by farmers’ organizations for a more realistic basis. The method for calculating compensation for land occupied by electricity transmission towers has also been revised. The compensable area will now include an additional one meter on all sides of the tower base, enhancing the compensation calculation accuracy.
The revised policy ensures that eligible landowners will receive 100% of the compensation in a single upfront payment, unlike the previous three-stage payment process. A Market Rate Committee (MRC) will be established to determine land values transparently. The committee will comprise the District Collector, landowners’ representatives, transmission service provider representatives, affected farmers’ representatives, and authorized market valuers.
