The Union power ministry recently issued guidelines for payment of right-of-way (RoW) compensation with respect to power transmission lines.
These guidelines are applicable to power transmission lines of 66kV and above, only, and not for sub-transmission and distribution lines of lower voltages.
According to the new guidelines, the compensation shall ordinarily be based on the Circle Rate/Guideline Value/Stamp Act rates of the land, except where the market rate exceeds the circle rate/Guideline value/Stamp Act rates. In such instances, the land value shall be determined based on the prevailing market rate as ascertained by the District Magistrate/District Collector/Deputy Commissioner in the manner as may be specified by the state Government. The determined land value shall serve as the basis for compensation and shall be promptly communicated by the respective District Magistrate/District Collector/Deputy Commissioner.
Compensation for the tower base area shall be 200 per cent of the land value. The tower base area shall be the area enclosed by the four legs of the tower at ground level, plus an additional 1-meter extension on each side.
The compensation amount for right-of-way (RoW) corridor shall be 30 per cent of the land value. Land within the RoW corridor, as defined in Schedule VII of the “Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations, 2022”, shall be eligible for compensation. This compensation will address the potential diminution of lani value due to the presence of overhead lines or underground cables within the RoW corridor. No construction activity of any kind would be permitted within the Row of the transmission line. States/UTs may decide higher rate depending on the area and urgency of the work.
The Union power ministry has further stated that states and Union territories may adopt these guidelines in their entirety or issue their own modified guidelines. In the absence of State Government guidelines, these guidelines issued by the Central Government shall apply for determining compensation.
Note: Detailed guidelines may be accessed from Union power ministry’s official website.
Also read: Power Ministry Notifies New Rules For State Subsidy To Discoms
Featured photograph (source: PGCIL) is for representation only
