NTPC deposited Rs. 108 crore with the Jharkhand Government for 450 acres of government land in Keradari and Chatti Bariatu coal projects. Local farmers alleged unfair treatment, as they didn’t receive direct compensation despite long-term occupation. Officials claim the payment follows existing guidelines.
NTPC has deposited a total of Rs. 108 crore with the Jharkhand state government as compensation for 450 acres of non-raiyati (government-owned) land acquired for its two major coal mining projects in Keradari and Chatti Bariatu in Hazaribagh district. However, concerns have been raised by local farmers and landholders over the verification process and the actual disbursement of this compensation.
Land Type and Disputed Verification
The compensation relates to land classified as “Gair Majrua Khas” and “Gair Majrua Jungle Jhari”, which generally refers to GM (Government) Land that is either uncultivated or forest-like in nature. In many cases, this land has been under the control of villagers and farmers for over 30 years, and some possess documents supporting their claims.
While NTPC has paid the amount to the State Government based on the prevailing rate of Rs. 24 lakh per acre, the verification of ownership or occupation by local farmers was not done by the local circle office (Keradari Anchal). As a result, instead of direct payment to those cultivating the land, the entire sum was sent to the government’s account.
According to a past NTPC circulars, if any Gair Majrua land is found under long-term possession with valid records, farmers should be considered eligible for compensation at par with raiyati (privately owned) landowners. This process had been followed earlier, and around 15 acres of such land had already received direct compensation to farmers.
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Token Compensation Sparks Controversy
When locals began raising concerns, the MDO (Mine Developer and Operator) companies handling both mines reportedly offered token payments between Rs. 1.5 lakh and Rs. 3 lakh per acre, far below the Rs. 24 lakh per acre rate used by NTPC. Many farmers reluctantly accepted this lower payment, while others are still waiting. For Chatti Bariatu (CB) mine, MDO Ritwik Company reportedly paid Rs. 3 lakh per acre, and for Keradari (KD) mine, BGR Company paid Rs. 1.5 lakh per acre. Local farmers claim this is unfair and inconsistent, especially since they have been cultivating the land for years.
Land Compensation Paid as per Government Norms: DC Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh DC Shashi Prakash Singh stated that compensation has been paid as per government norms and in line with land acquisition provisions. He also clarified that the appropriate guidelines for different land types are being followed. Keradari CO (Circle Officer) said that the verification of Gair Majrua land is not being actively done at present. Instead, companies like NTPC are conducting their own land verification. He noted that in CCL’s upcoming Chandragupta Coal Project, such verification is currently in progress. NTPC Keredari Project AGM Subhash Prasad Gupta added that the compensation has been paid strictly as per government guidelines. For lands where circle-level verification was not completed, the money was deposited with the State Government.
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Breakdown of Land Acquisition
In the Keradari Coal Mining Project, a total of 1,606.89 acres have been acquired from the following land types:
Raiyati land: 1,255.07 acres
Gair Majrua Khas: 200.79 acres
Gair Majrua Aam: 23.35 acres
Forest and unmarked areas: 127.68 acres
In the Chatti Bariatu Project, a total of 1,589.8 acres have been acquired, including:
Raiyati land: 1,071.09 acres
Gair Majrua Khas and Jungle Jhari: 199.32 acres
Gair Majrua Aam: 11 acres
Forest land: 318.88 acres
