Farmers and villagers who had surrendered their lands for the Jayamkondam Lignite Power Project (JLPP) staged an indefinite fast stir in front of the Taluk Office in Jayamkondam demanding compensation for the land as fixed by the special courts.
The JLPP envisaged generation of 2,400 MW through three units each of 800 MW capacity. Over 8,300 acres was acquired from 7,210 farmers in 23 villages including Melur, Kallathur, Dhevanur, Keezh Kudiyiruppu, Pudukudi and Ilaiyur.
This apart, government land to an extent of 1,030 acres was also acquired. Two special courts were started in Jayamkondam for expeditious settlement of cases.
The courts, while settling a majority of cases, awarded a minimum compensation of Rs. 2.75 lakh an acre.
Together with solatium and interest, the per acre compensation stood around Rs.12 to Rs.17 lakh depending on the guidelines for the village, they said.
It is more than one and a half years since the special courts awarded compensation. But nothing has come through so far, they alleged.
