Farmers in Punjab have joined the Uttar Pradesh farmers’ league in raising their voice against land acquisition by the state government for the upcoming power project in the Mansa district.
Farmers allege that they were forced to surrender their lands for the project.
The Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding with Indiabulls Power Ltd last year for setting up a thermal power plant in the district. The company has plans to set up 540 megawatt (Mw) (2 x 270) thermal power plant, under the Power Generation Policy 2010 of the state. The proposed project is likely to attract an investment of Rs 5.5 - 6 crore per Mw.
Talking to Business Standard, Punjab power secretary S K Sandhu said the farmers do not have any legitimate right to protest as the state government has given them compensation on mutually agreed terms. He added, a handful of farmers did not accept the compensation and their dues have been deposited in the court.
Eight hundred acres of land has already been acquired by the government, he said.
Indiabulls Power intends to set up three more units of 270 Mw each. The company has identified about 800 acres of land after this thermal project.
Four private big thermal power generation projects have been cleared by the state government for which the state facilitated land acquisition by the private players at Talwandi Sabo (Sterlite Energy), Rajpura (L&T), Mansa (Indiabulls Power) and Goindwal Sahib (GVK Power).
The state government has offered a number of incentives for setting up power generation projects under the policy, which includes 100 per cent exemption from payment of fee and stamp duty for registration of the land, cent per cent exemption from payment of land use change charges, 100 per cent exemption from entry tax, and waiver of 50 per cent electricity duty for consumption of power.
