‘Akin to a Satyagrah’: Alleging inadequate compensation for power project, farmers’ body plans four-day-long footmarch
Farmers from around a hundred villages in Olpad, Mandvi, Palsana, Bardoli, Kamrej, and Mahuva have been affected by the high-tension transmission line, said Parimal
3 min read
The Khedut Samaj, Gujarat (KSG), an organisation of farmers in the state, held a meeting in this regard in Surat's Bardoli town on Thursday evening (Express Photo)Farmers in four talukas of Surat will likely take out a four-day-long footmarch “akin to a Satyagrah” on June 23 against the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) for allegedly giving them inadequate compensation in lieu of installing electricity towers and power transmission lines in their agricultural fields.
The Khedut Samaj, Gujarat (KSG), an organisation of farmers in the state, held a meeting in this regard in Surat’s Bardoli town on Thursday evening. The meeting was attended by over 100 farmer leaders from seven talukas in Surat district, and they were asked to contact those affected by the project.
Sources in KSG stated that three high-tension lines, each with a capacity of 765 KV, are at the centre of the contention. While one passes from Ahmedabad to Navsari (in South Gujarat), the second goes from Vataman (Ahmedabad District) to Navsari. The third line will be between South Olpad in Surat district to Boisar in Maharashtra. These lines are connected to Khavda in Kutch district where a private company has installed a 30,000 megawatt solar and wind power plant. The work of transmission and installation of electric towers had been given to PGCIL, added the sources.
KSG state president Jayesh Patel had held a meeting in this regard with the affected farmers in Olpad taluka last Sunday.
KSG’s Surat district president Parimal Patel said, “The meeting went by successfully and we have taken an important decision to take out a foot march, which would probably be held on July 23. The foot march will start from Virpor village in Mandvi taluka and cover different affected villages in Mandvi, Palsana, Bardoli, and Kamrej talukas of Surat district.”
He said a distance of 80km will be covered in the foot march. “Cooperative leaders, social workers, and members of KSG will participate in the foot march, which will culminate at Arak Pardi village in Palsana taluka. It would take around four days to complete the rally, which will start from Mandvi. We plan to conduct another foot march covering Olpad, Mahuva, and parts of Bharuch and Navsari,” said Parimal.
He said, “During the foot march, we would make the affected farmers more aware of their right to the compensation amount. The foot march would be akin to a Satyagrah. The affected farmers have not been paid well by the PGCIL.”
Farmers from around a hundred villages in Olpad, Mandvi, Palsana, Bardoli, Kamrej, and Mahuva have been affected by the high-tension transmission line, said Parimal. “At some locations, the work is still underway, while at others, the electric poles have already been installed.
The farmers of Mandvi taluka have stopped PGVCL (power distribution company) officials from carrying out the work related to setting up electric towers in their agricultural fields.”
PGCIL officials, meanwhile, did not respond to repeated requests for a comment.
You May Like
Photos
