(a) whether no compensation is paid to land owners on whose land power
transmission lines are laid;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the present compensation is being denied under the provisions of Para
164 of the Electricity Act, 2003;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has issued written orders in this regard as required by
the Act; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF POWER (SHRI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE )
(a) to (d) : In accordance with Section 164 of the Electricity Act, 2003, `the
appropriate Government may, by order in writing, for the placing of electric lines or
electrical plant for the transmission of electricity or for the purpose of telephonic or telegraphic communications necessary for the proper co-ordination of works, confer upon any public officer, licensee or any other person engaged in the business of supplying electricity under this Act, subject to such conditions and restrictions, if any, as the Appropriate Government may think fit to impose and to the provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, any of the powers which the telegraph authority possesses under that Act with respect to the placing of telegraph lines and posts for the purposes of a telegraph established or maintained, by the Government or to be so established or maintained.`
The agencies implementing the transmission projects and conferred with
the above powers under Section 164 of the Electricity Act, 2003 are not required to
acquire land for laying of transmission lines. In accordance with the provisions of
Telegraph Act, 1885, compensation towards all damages including damage to crops/trees
during construction/maintenance of transmission line is paid to the land owner. The land owner is allowed to continue agricultural activities below the transmission lines. In case any damage to immovable property becomes necessary for laying of transmission lines, full compensation to all interested persons for any damage sustained by them, is allowed.
(e) & (f) : In accordance with Section 164 of the Electricity Act, 2003, Power Grid
Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL) has been authorized to exercise all the powers vested
in the Telegraph Authority under Part III of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, in respect of the electrical lines and electrical plant established or maintained, or to be so established or maintained for the transmission of electricity or for the purpose of telephonic or telegraphic communications necessary for the proper coordination of the works, vide Order S.O. 1463 (E) published in Part II Section 3
(ii) of the Gazette of India on 24.12.2003. The appropriate Government for issuing similar Order in respect of State transmission lines is the respective State Government.