Land acquisition for the Meja-NTPC thermal power plant is worrying the farmers of Meja tehsil. Meja Thermal Power Project is a 1,320-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station under development in Uttar Pradesh, India. This project has been proposed as a joint venture between National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL). NTPC and UPRVUNL are both 50% shareholders in the joint venture company, Meja Urja Nigam Private Limited. The planned capacity of the power plant is 1320 MW (2x660MW).
The villages which are affected by the power plant, located around 50 kilometres from district headquarters, include Patai, Mai Khurd, Laltara, Salaiya Khurd, Salaiyan Kalan and Jhadiyahi Sirhir. The proposed plant was conceptualized in 2008. The farmers were paid the compensation of Rs 90,000 per bigha (about 0.25 Hectare). The farmers say that it is far less then the market rate or even the circle rate. They are demanding compensation at the rate of Rs 25 to 30 lakhs per bigha.
The farmers have been protesting against unfair compensation for the land acquired. However, the authorities are not paying any heed. They alleged that the plant was being constructed forcibly by deploying hundreds of police personnel. They said that they were not consulted while deciding compensation. The compensation amount was given at a rate lower than the circle rate. The then District Magistrate and NTPC management had promised to give jobs, but that too was not fulfilled.
In September, 2014, there were clashes between the company and the farmers to stop the construction work on their land. Later, senior officials of the company called the farmers for talks, but the farmers said that they will not speak to any company officials and that their fight is directly with the administration and the government.
Mr. Chandel, the convener of Anti-displacement forum said that a total of about 300 hectares of land acquired is not not put to use by NTPC. He claims that this land can be taken only according to the new Land Acquisition Act, 2013 which says that if the acquired land is not used by the acquiring entity for five years, then the process of acquisition of that land under the new acquisition law will be repeated. He also alleged that about 100 families who will need to be displaced were not recorded nor were they given any compensation.
The project has been currently shut down due to a fault in turbine. Om Dutt Singh, an activist from Allahabad who is actively involved in this conflict spoke to LCW on 1 May, 2020. He said there is no active protest going on now, since the site is abandoned. Although, a land litigation is going on where farmers are fighting to get back their land by returning the compensation awarded to them.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for more compensation than promised
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand for rehabilitation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Private
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project stalled
Original Project Deadline
2021
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
<https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Farmers-police-clash-at-Meja-thermal-power-plant/articleshow/31579062.cms>
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
7575
Type of investment:
Investment Made
Year of Estimation
2012
Has the Conflict Ended?
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-payment of compensation/promised compensation
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Incorrect estimation of compensation
Violation of free prior informed consent
Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act
Legal Status:
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Central Electricity Authority
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC), Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL), Meja Urja Nigam Private Limited (MUNPL)
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
UP Rajya Vidyut Nigam Limited (UPRVNL).
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Local farmers
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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