Gujarat govt refutes Shaktisinh’s allegation over Essar land acquisition

Gandhinagar

Refuting the allegations made by Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil in a press conference in Ahmedabad on Saturday, Department of Revenue, Government of Gujarat has today issued a statement making clarification on Essar Power Limited land issue. Earlier Essar Power had also issued a statement regarding this. Following is edited version of English translation of Gujarati statement issued by the state government:

– Essar Power Gujarat Ltd company has purchased 209-05-67 out of 238-11-38 land from farmers for its coal corridor construction. 16-61-26 land has been acquired under land acquisition notification award of which has been published on 30th September 2014.

– Gujarat government had decided rates for 12-44-45 land and made allotment on 15th May 2015, possession of which was handed over to company on 10th June 2015. The company has paid Rs 17,18,73,760 for that.

– The company has been allotted only 13,746 square meter Gauchar land in Nana Mandha and Parodia villages in exchange of which, company has purchased private land in village and handed over it to government. Possession of this land is already with government.

– Essar Power Gujarat company has gathered total 23,81,138 square meter land for coal corridor, of which 20,90,567 square meter which is 87.79% has been purchased from farmers, while 1,66,126 square meter land has been acquired under land acquisition notification through legal way. 1,24,445 square meter land has been allotted by the state government, full payment for which has been made by the company.

– The government has finalized compensation amount for 1,66,126 square meter land that the company has acquired. Compensation rate in this case is matching to the rate paid by the company to farmers when it purchased the balance land.

– When company wanted to start work on purchased, acquired and government allotted land, some people tried to create obstructions. The company therefore got police protection. Some farmers claimed that the land allocated to company by government also covers the land owned by farmers. Petition in this regard filed by applicant smt Liriben Hirabhai Vahera (civil plea 10552/2015) has attracted court order o 30th June while one more petitioner Dharmendrasinhji Meruji Jadeja’s special civil application number 10671/2015 is going to see hearing on 24th August.

– No protection has been given to company for construction or other work on land other than purchased, allotted and acquired land. The case is pending before the High Court.

– DeshGujarat