Dharma Patil's land in Vikharan village in Dhule district was acquired for a solar power project
Three months after Dharma Patil, an 84-year-old farmer, committed suicide demanding higher compensation for his land acquired for the power project in Dhule district, the state government on Friday set up an inquiry committee chaired by former principal district judge Shyam Darne to look into the lack of payment of adequate compensation. A notification was issued on Friday and the committee has been given three months to submit its report.
An official from the state energy department told DNA, "The committee will examine the demand for payment of adequate compensation for 650 mango trees and probe whether the concerned official had paid higher compensation to other landholders after tampering with the land records. The committee will suggest action accordingly." This apart, the inquiry panel will also inquire into the entire land acquisition process and look into the chain of events that led to Patil's death after consuming poison on January 22 at the Mantralaya.
State energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on March 7 had announced in the state assembly that the government will finalise the name of a retired judge to preside the inquiry and the report will be submitted in the next three months. Bawankule told the lower house that the process of land acquisition was started in 2012 and the inquiry will reveal the many issues that need to be looked at. He also declared that the government has proposed to give an ex gratia of Rs 15 lakh per hectare to the Patil family and other project-affected farmers in Dhule. Earlier, the state chief secretary had also probed into the matter.
The government's move comes close on the heels of BJP's ruling partner Shiv Sena stating that the public had elected their government after getting tired of the Congress-NCP rule and that the BJP should stop blaming Patil's death on the former rule. Whereas the Opposition labelled Patil's death a "murder" committed by the state government.
PATIL'S STORY
- Dharma Patil's land in Vikharan village in Dhule district was acquired for a solar power project.
- Patil's son Narendra said their land was acquired by the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited in 2012.
- He claimed that the compensation received was extremely low and nowhere close to what their neighbours received.
- For their five acre land, the Patils were given Rs 4 lakh whereas two of their neighbours were given Rs 2 crore for the same area.
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