Now,state will have to pay more to get land for power plant

As per the legislation,owners of the acquired land will end up with four times the market value if their property is in rural

areas and double in case of urban areas. The Punjab government has so far been paying landowners the market price plus an additional solatium of 30 per cent. A Power Corporation official said that nearly 1,000 acres land will be acquired from farmers of nearly 28 villages for the thermal plant. With the new compensation rates taking effect,the cash-strapped government’s looks set to be faced with a huge bill.

Though a team led by the Chief Engineer,Thermal Civil Design,Central Electricity Authority (CEA) had visited Mukerian and land has been identified for acquisition,the government is yet to issue a notification for the process.

Officials of the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC),Railways,Punjab Pollution Control Board,Central

Water Commission,Irrigation and Forest and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) have also visited some of the villages near Hajipur in Mukerian sub-division of Hoshiarpur district.

A senior PSPCL official,on the condition of anonymity,said that the project will be set up with 90 per cent aid from the Power Finance Corporation with PSCPL pitching in with the rest while state government will take care of the land acquisition process.