Farmers aggrieved by Essar power line can approach district

The Gujarat High Court today said farmers of Ankaleshwar and Hansot tehsils in Bharuch district who are aggrieved by the Essar Power Transmission Company Ltd's high tension electricity transmission lines passing over their lands can approach the district judge for compensation.
The division bench of acting Chief Justice Jayant Patel and Justice N V Anjaria was hearing the petitions filed by 78 farmers.
"The route of transmission line (by Essar) is altered to a substantial extent. Not only that, the villages of the petitioners were not even referred to in the public advertisement given prior to the grant of licence by the government for approval of the route for laying down of the transmission line," held the High Court.

"Resultantly, it can be said that no opportunity was made available to the petitioners," the HC said, adding "the petitioners shall also be entitled to additional compensation for alteration so made from the approved plan."
The farmers can approach the district judge about enhanced compensation within six weeks, the HC said.
The district judge will conduct a hearing and complete the proceedings preferably within six months from making of the application, the bench said.

Essar Power Transmission Company laid high-tension power transmission line across several villages of Hansot and Ankaleshwar tehsils in 2009-2009.
But it made substantial changes in the line in variance with its advertisement and erected towers in some places without prior intimation and using police force, the farmers say.

In 2013, the landowners moved the HC saying the compensation given by the power company was not adequate. A single judge of HC refused them relief, so they moved the division bench.