Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Gujarat High Court has given the green signal to a major renewable energy transmission project, dismissing multiple petitions filed by farmers challenging the installation of high-voltage transmission lines and towers.
Justice Hemant M Prachchhak rejected the pleas against the Mega Renewable Energy Transmission System Project under Phase-3 PartA, linked to the Khavda Renewable Energy Park.
The court upheld permissions granted by the district magistrate under provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act and the Electricity Act, validating the statutory powers exercised by Halvad Transmission Ltd.
The project aims to transmit an additional 7 gigawatts of green energy and is considered a crucial part of India’s interstate transmission network, supporting national energy security and environmental goals.
Farmers in Morbi district had opposed the project, raising concerns over transmission lines passing through their agricultural land and questioning the approvals granted by authorities. They argued that the project could adversely impact local livelihoods and sought a halt to the work.
However, the project developer maintained that it holds deemed licensee status under the Electricity Act, allowing it to lay transmission infrastructure without requiring landowners’ consent. It also argued that the project serves a larger public interest and is vital for the country’s renewable energy ambitions.
After hearing all parties, the high court ruled in favour of the project, stating that in cases of conflict between private and public interest, the latter must prevail.
At the same time, the court clarified that affected farmers retain the right to seek compensation for any damage and can pursue legal remedies for enhanced compensation as per law.
Petitioners’ contention
The petitioners’ advocate VB Mehta submitted that no consent had been sought by the authorities from the landowners and that the notice issued in the newspapers, as part of the process, did not specify the lands through which the transmission lines would pass.
