In a symbolic protest the farmers of Vendkol in Pulakal mandal tied a rope around their neck that was hung from a high tension pole, in a field along the Mumbai Highway, here on Monday.
Begari Lakshmi led the protest and
other farmers, who accompanied her, climbed atop the HT poles registering their protest, demanding proper compensation for their land that came under the high tension (HT) power lines.
“Six months back, we were asked to sign some papers stating that high tension (HT) power lines would pass through our fields. They said our consent was mandatory since it was a central government project, failing which we would face a police intervention, ” said Ms. Lakshmi.
Lakshmi was paid a compensation of ₹ 70,000 in two phases – ₹ 40,000 in the first phase and ₹ 30,000 in second.
However, there were many farmers who did not know they were eligible for compensation and could approach the authorities for that. An order issued by the Collector on April 20, 2017, stated that compensation for land facing the highway up to 0.5 kilometres, nearer to the housing layouts, industrial areas, commercially developed areas under category I would be ₹ 3.5 lakh per tower while under category II – the area of damage up to 350 square yards in both the categories –would be ₹ 4.5 lakh per tower.
For interior lands the compensation would be ₹ 2.45 lakh per tower under category I and ₹ 3.15 lakh per tower under category II.
“To cover all the damages to the land owners under the line corridor for the width of 20 metres (10 metres from either side from the centre of the line) for the existing span between towers shall be assessed at ₹ 60 per square metre and paid to the respective land owners as per the extent of land effected,” stated the orders. Many of the farmers present at the protest were ignorant about the orders.
“Farmers have been taken for a ride. They have not been paid proper compensation despite the orders issued by the Collector. Who should we approach when even the Collector’s orders were violated?” asked Andol Krishna, President, Sarpanchula Ikya Vedika, one of the sufferers.
