Haryana Government Approves Fair Compensation Policy for Landowners

The Haryana government has approved a new compensation policy for landowners impacted by power transmission projects. This decision, aimed at benefiting farmers, was announced in an official statement on Tuesday. Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (HVPNL) introduced this policy to address long-standing disputes between landowners and transmission utilities.

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Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini highlighted that the new policy would significantly increase the compensation paid to farmers. He stated, "This initiative aims to streamline the implementation of transmission lines while ensuring fair compensation for affected landowners." The policy is expected to enhance the state's infrastructure and contribute to its overall development.

Compensation Details

The new policy includes payment for the tower base area at 200 per cent of the land value without acquisition. Additionally, it provides compensation for the Right of Way (RoW) corridor at 30 per cent of the land value for the transmission line corridor. Previously, there was no compensation for the RoW corridor, and the tower base area compensation was set at 100 per cent of the land value.

The state government approved this policy following guidelines issued by the Union Power Ministry on June 14. These guidelines focus on compensating RoW for transmission lines, aiming to balance development with fair compensation for landowners.

Determining Land Rates

To determine land rates for calculating compensation where market rates exceed circle or collector rates, a User Committee will be established at the district level. This committee will include the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, District Revenue Officer, and Superintending Engineer HVPNL. The compensation rates will be based on the circle rate or collector rate of the land.

The provision for crop compensation remains unchanged and will continue to be paid to farmers. This ensures that farmers receive consistent support despite changes in other compensation areas.

Meanwhile, this new policy aims to resolve issues between landowners and transmission utilities by providing fair compensation. It recognises the need to balance development with just treatment of those affected by such projects.

The initiative is expected to bolster Haryana's infrastructure and contribute to its multifaceted development. By addressing long-standing issues and ensuring fair compensation, it aims to create a more equitable environment for all stakeholders involved.

In summary, Haryana's new compensation policy marks a significant step towards resolving disputes between landowners and transmission utilities. By increasing compensation rates and establishing clear guidelines, it aims to ensure fair treatment for affected farmers while supporting the state's infrastructure development.