11-yr deadlock over compensation cleared, NTPC to start mining

Hazaribagh (Jharkhand) Apr 18: The NTPC today agreed to pay Rs 20 lakh as compensation to land owners ending a 11-year deadlock, a government official said here.

Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar said the agreement was reached in the presence of R S Rathi, General Manager (NTPC-Coal Mining Project, Pakri-Barwadih in Barkagaon of Hazaribagh district), representatives of the raiyats (land owners) and himself (DC).

As per the agreement, NTPC agreed to raise the compensation amount from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh per acre, the DC said at a joint press conference with Rathi. Describing the decision as historic, the DC said the pre-mining work of the project would start from end of this month.

The NTPC GM said altogether 8,337 raiyats who will be displaced, following the project would benefit from the raise. The coal mining project, pending since 2004, would start producing 15 million tonnes coal from the end of this year, Rathi said.

The officials said those raiyats who had already taken the old compensation amount of Rs 15 lakh would be given Rs 5 lakh more.

PTI