Punjab News: Punjab Govt Increases Compensation for Farmers Affected by Power Transmission Towers

The Punjab government has significantly increased the compensation provided to farmers for installing power transmission towers in their agricultural fields. The new policy, notified on February 3, raises compensation by nearly 100 times and extends benefits to farmers whose land falls under the right of way (RoW) corridor of transmission lines.

Massive Increase in Compensation

Under the revised policy, farmers will receive far higher compensation based on the collector rate of their land. For example, if the collector rate is ₹16 lakh per acre, the compensation for a 220 KV power line has increased from ₹43,000 per km to approximately ₹42 lakh per km. Similarly, compensation for a 66 KV line has been raised from ₹26,000 per km to ₹22 lakh per km.

A senior official stated that farmers would receive a lump sum of around ₹125 crore annually, benefiting those with approximately 200 km of high-power transmission lines running through their fields.

Right of Way and Tower Base Compensation

The new policy also ensures compensation for farmers impacted by power lines running through their land, not just those with transmission towers. The right-of-way corridor will now be compensated at 30% of the land value, addressing potential land devaluation due to overhead transmission lines or underground cables.

For the tower base area, farmers will now receive 200% of the land value, covering the area enclosed by the tower’s four legs plus an additional 1-meter extension on each side. Previously, compensation was provided at 85% of the per-acre collector rate and applied only to the land within the four legs of the tower.

Government’s Objective and Future Implementation

The policy, approved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, aims to ease tensions between farmers and power utilities by offering fair compensation. In the past, disputes over land acquisition for power transmission and distribution lines led to significant resistance from farmers.

This revised compensation structure will apply prospectively to farmers whose land hosts transmission towers above 66 KV, ensuring a more equitable approach to land use for essential infrastructure projects.