Gujarat
,
Halvad
,
Morbi
Published :
Jan 2025
|
Updated :
Morbi farmers protest over disparity in compensation for power transmission lines
Reported by
Suchak Patel
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Sourabh Rai
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
150
People affected
Year started
ha.
Land area affected
Households affected
150
People Affected
Year started
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Power
Reason/Cause of conflict
Transmission Lines
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Power
Reason/Cause of conflict
Transmission Lines
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

Around 150 farmers from 10 villages in the Halwad sub-division protested in Mangalpur village against the disparity in compensation for laying a 765 KV power grid line from Kutch's Lakadia to Ahmedabad.

Frustrated over pits dug on their agricultural land without adequate compensation, the farmers demanded Rs 1 lakh per pole. They warned that they would not allow work to continue unless their demands were met.

Farmers noted that in 2021, others along the same route were compensated much more generously, with some receiving up to Rs 1 lakh per farmer for similar projects, as reported by Gujarat Samachar. However, in 2024, farmers in Halwad are only being offered Rs 50,000 per pole, significantly lower than the Rs 1 lakh per pole provided in neighbouring regions. The protesters emphasized that once the poles are installed, the land beneath them becomes unusable for farming, resulting in a permanent loss of valuable agricultural land.

The farmers alleged that their protests regarding unfair compensation were being ignored, and they were being forced to allow the power grid company to proceed with the work under police intimidation. In response, Congress leaders accompanied the farmers from several affected villages, including Juna Ghantila, Khakharechi, Venasar, Vejalpar, Kumbhariya, and Mangalpur, to the collector's office. Farmers of Maliya-Halwad also submitted a petition to the Collector alleging that the Power Grid Company was giving low compensation to them for the 765 KV heavy power line passing through Morbi district.

The farmers expressed that while they had no objection to the power line work itself, they were demanding compensation at the same rates determined by the company in 2021. Congress leaders warned that if these demands were not met, they were prepared to halt the project in support of the farmers, reported Bhaskar.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for compensation

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?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Agricultural land

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

5
Information on the use of criminal law

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?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for compensation

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

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?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Agricultural land

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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THE LCW COMMUNITY
Exclusive monthly policy briefs, stories from the ground, Quarterly Analytics report, Curated Expert talks, merchandise and much more.


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