Tata Power’s compensation/rehabilitation package for those displaced by its 1,600 Mw power project at Alibaug in Raigad district has been approved in its details by the state government today. The agreement has been signed on its implementation.
Earlier, the Maharashtra State Rehabilitation Authority had okayed the same package, based on the Maharashtra Project Affected Persons Rehabilitation Act, 1999, and a subsequent national policy guideline of 2007. Around half the 461 acres needed has been acquired, through the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. Ecological clearance from the Union government came quite a while earlier. The memorandum of understanding with the state government was signed in April 2005, but progress was slow thereafter, due to opposition from local residents and completion of administrative procedures. Payment to the affected farmers began last year.
The project calls for use of imported coal, from Indonesia. Tata is to pay one-time compensation of Rs 5 lakh per acre to each project affected family (PAF), a one-time Rs 2 crore payment to each of the two villages losing land (Dehrand and Shahapur) for basic infrastructure and civic amenities, and Rs 25 lakh per year per village towards subsequent maintenance of these. The company plans to increase this amount by 10 per cent every three years.
Tata Power also stated it would provide one permanent job to each PAF and organise time-bound training and education if required or pay Rs 3 lakh (one-time) as financial assistance. It would also develop a modern hospital with 20 beds for the local community.
