'Nothing Short of Dictatorship': Despite Compensation Hike, Gujarat Farmers' Fast Against Adani Project On

New Delhi: The famers in Jetpar village in Morbi, Gujarat have continued their indefinite fast unto death even after the Bhupendra Patel government on Friday (July 3) budged and raised compensation for those losing land to the Adani Group's transmission project. The protestors have called for a written government resolution and are demanding four times the market value for their land, not two times.

As the Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL) is installing high-tension power lines and towers on agricultural lands in Morbi district, the agitating farmers are demanding a compensation up to four times the market rate for giving “right of way” saying the installed infrastructure will leave their land practically uncultivable. The government's original offer was twice the government-fixed "jantri rate," below actual market prices. The project will affect hundreds of farmers in at least six tehsils of Morbi.

Besides Morbi, the project will also affect famers in Kutch, Jamnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Surendranagar, Patan and Banaskantha.

At a press conference on Friday (July 3), when the indefinite hunger strike by 11 farmers in Morbi had entered 16th day, agriculture minister Jitu Vaghani, energy minister Kanubhai Desai and minister of state for energy Mukesh Patel announced a revised policy offering double the market value as compensation instead of double the jantri rate calling it "fair, transparent and market-linked".

Also read: Farmer Protests Spread Across Gujarat, Forcing the Government to Rethink Its Policies

As per reports, the ministers also said that compensable area calculations were revised in farmers' favour, adding an extra metre on each side of a tower's footprint, and the full amount will now be paid upfront rather than in instalments.

A new market rate committee comprising of the district collector, representatives of affected landowners, a farmer-appointed valuer and a company representative will fix land values going forward, the ministers mentioned.

However, the fast entered its 18th day on Sunday as farmers have demanded a written government resolution, not verbal assurances and an increase in the revised compensation as well.

The movement began as scattered protests before consolidating at Jetpar village in early June. Seventeen farmers shaved their heads as a symbolic gesture for "the death of humanity," carrying placards calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "traitor," before launching the hunger strike.

Thousands marched from Shantipura Circle to Gandhinagar under Congress banners – Kisan Congress and Kisan Sangharsh Samiti – by tractor, bullock cart, car, two-wheeler, bus and on foot on June 15.

"This is nothing short of dictatorship. I haven't received a single penny in compensation. Whenever I object to the workers entering my farm, the police harass me. The work is being carried out under police protection. I reluctantly agreed to let my farmland be acquired for the power transmission lines," Ajeet Chauhan in Kondh village, Surendrangar district told Deccan Herald.

Farmer leaders have also accused companies including the Adani firm of forcibly installing poles.

"They have forcibly got into our land without even consulting us and now they are not even spelling out a fair compensation. We have no problem with any infrastructure project, but not like this," Rakesh Amrutiya, one of the farmer leaders on indefinite strike, told The Telegraph last week.

He warned: "The agitation is continuing in the Gandhian manner of Satyagrah, but it may worsen and get out of hand if the government does not initiate concrete measures to award a fair compensation to the farmers."

In a statement, AESL had earlier said: "AESL is fully committed to engaging with the landowners and paying them a fair compensation as determined by the civic administration under the law but some vested interests are instigating the landowners."

“As part of the statutory process, we approached the district officials for directions, who after multiple rounds of hearing with all stakeholders, have determined compensation and granted permission for AESL to continue work and if needed, under police protection,” it added in a written statement before the Gujarat government announced the revised compensation.

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