Archive · 11 Aug 2026

Gujarat's power push hits land-value wall as farmers reject payout

Gujarat's power push hits land-value wall as farmers reject payout

Farmers in the Indian state of Gujarat grow crops on farms that belong to them.

The government and power companies want to put very tall electricity poles and wires across these farms.

The wires would carry electricity from a huge new renewable energy park to other places.

The farmers are upset because the poles take up space, so they cannot use all of their land to grow food.

Farmers also worry the wires will make their land worth less money, so they cannot sell it for a good price later.

The Gujarat government said it would pay the farmers more money, and even promised to pay everything up front.

But the farmers do not like how the government decides the price, because it picks two of three appraiser reports randomly, like a lottery.

The farmers say the system is confusing and unfair, and some want much more money for their land.

The arguments started with one power company's project, but now farmers across many districts are protesting together.

The two sides still cannot agree, so the farmers keep protesting.

Sources