Compensation – Transmission Lines – Right of Way & Tower Base Area – new Guidelines
New important and salutary guidelines of 14th June, 2024 strike a balance for fair compensation and for grant of compensation regarding Right of Way (RoW) for transmission lines not only for construction and timely completion of transmission lines but also for normal crop and tree damages.
The Ministry of Power, Government of India, has issued the guidelines under Sections 67 and 68 of the Electricity Act, 2003 read with Sections 10 and 16 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
Salient features – (i) applicable to the transmission lines supported by a tower base of 66 KV voltage level and above, (ii) District Collector / Deputy Commissioner is the authority to determine compensation;
Compensation based on Circle Rate, Guideline value or Stamp Act rates of the land and in case market rate exceeds these rates, land value is to be determined based on prevailing market rate.
Compensation @200% of the land value for tower base area.
Land within RoW corridor is eligible for compensation at 30% of the land value.
States may either adopt these new guidelines in entirety or issue their own modified guidelines. In the absence of State guidelines, the Central Government Guidelines will apply.
