Maharashtra
,
Paras
,
Akola
Published :
Sep 2016
|
Updated :
Farmers Oppose Paras Thermal Power Plant in Maharashtra, Raise Pollution Concerns
Reported by
Prerna Chaurashe
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
427
People affected
2015
Year started
110
Land area affected
Households affected
427
People Affected
2015
Year started
110
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Power
Reason/Cause of conflict
Thermal Power Plant
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Power
Reason/Cause of conflict
Thermal Power Plant
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

Paras Thermal Power Plant, commissioned in 1961, is the oldest power plant of the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) located at Paras in Akola district. In 2014, MAHAGENCO proposed to install a 250megawatt unit to expand the existing plant. In a MAHAGENCO report in 2014, the land acquisition process from the same was said to be complete. However, the environmental clearance was not granted. Residents of Paras village have opposed the project. They question the need for a new power plant, which will use a huge quantum of the water that farmers need for irrigation. The power plant needs 110 hectares from 89 farmers of the village. Of these, four farmers had refused to give away their land, but they agreed when the Supreme Court ordered to increase their compensation amount from INR 2.75 lakh per hectare to INR 6 lakh per hectare and also for jobs to be provided to the project affected. However, opposition to the project escalated when the Prime Ministers Office directed the inspection of the Koradi power plant over excessive pollution allegations. In June 2019, Vidarbha Connect kickstarted an agitation against new units and highlighted numerous violations at the Koradi Thermal Power Plant. Following this, the environment ministry refused to initiate the process of granting environmental clearance to other MAHAGENCO plants in Paras and Chandrapur.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Refusal to give up land for the project

Opposition against environmental degradation

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

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

1250

Type of investment:

Cost of Project

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

No

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:

Akola Environmental Action Group , Vidarbha Environmental Action Group, Vidharbha Connect

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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Author
Reported by
Prerna Chaurashe


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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Refusal to give up land for the project

Opposition against environmental degradation

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

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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