MoP Releases Norms To Compensate For Damages Under Right Of Way

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The Ministry of Power (MoP) recently issued guidelines for compensating Right of Way (RoW) regarding transmission lines. These guidelines aim to expedite construction and ensure timely completion by addressing RoW issues effectively, particularly in urban areas.

The guidelines specify compensation for damages related to RoW under the Electricity Act among other guidelines. The new guideline supersedes previous guidelines and applies specifically to transmission lines supported by tower bases of 66 kV voltage level or higher. Compensation is provided for the tower base area, which encompasses the area enclosed by the tower’s four legs at ground level, plus an additional one-meter extension on each side, covering 200% of the land value.

Compensation for the RoW corridor itself is set at 30% of the land value within the corridor, defined by the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations, 2022 (Annex J). This compensation addresses the issue of a potential decrease in the value of a property due to overhead lines or underground cables within the RoW corridor. Construction activities are strictly prohibited within the RoW of the transmission line. States or Union Territories (UTs) may opt for higher rates based on area-specific considerations and the urgency of the work.

The guidelines also outline alternate compensation methods offered by the corporation/municipality concerned under the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) policy of the State/UT. It is applicable for those areas where landowners have accepted alternative modes, such as Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) under state or UT policies. The compensation amount is deposited by the licensee/utility in such cases.

To overcome RoW constraints, the guidelines recommend various technologies like steel pole structures, narrow-based lattice towers, and advanced solutions such as Gas Insulated Lines (GIL) and Voltage Source Converter (VSC) based HVDC systems. These technologies are detailed in the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations, 2022.
For the identification of affected landowners, the guidelines require a survey to document the names of landowners within the transmission line’s RoW during the execution stage. Compensation payments are to be made upfront and as a one-time settlement, preferably through digital methods like Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) or Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Additionally, the guidelines establish a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for states/UTs and transmission developers. States/UTs have the flexibility to adopt these guidelines in full or modify them according to local needs. In the absence of specific state guidelines, the Central Government’s guidelines govern the determination of compensation.