Gujarat farmers threaten road blockade on June 30 as agitation over power transmission poles intensifies

Farmer organisations in Gujarat have announced a statewide road blockade on June 30, signalling an escalation of their agitation against the installation of power transmission poles on agricultural land and other pending issues affecting cultivators.

The announcement comes days after a farmers' rally in Gandhinagar, with leaders stating that the protest movement would continue until the government addresses their demands.

Leaders of the Kisan Congress said farmers would organise road blockades across the state and intensify protests over compensation for land used for power transmission infrastructure.

Addressing a press conference, Kisan Congress leaders claimed that sustained agitation had compelled power companies to improve compensation offers for transmission poles erected on farmland. They alleged that compensation proposals had increased from ₹38 lakh to ₹55 lakh per pole following pressure from farmer groups.

The leaders maintained that farmers were opposed to the installation of transmission poles in the middle of cultivated land and demanded compensation in accordance with provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

They said farmer organisations would continue holding demonstrations and submitting representations at the taluka level before launching a larger statewide mobilisation, including a tractor rally.

The issue has also sparked political exchanges, with Kisan Congress leaders accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of failing to support farmers' interests during the agitation. AAP has not formally responded to the allegations.

Meanwhile, BJP leader and Patidar community representative Varun Patel has reportedly written to President Droupadi Murmu seeking intervention in the matter. In his representation, Patel raised concerns over the acquisition and use of agricultural land for power transmission projects and urged authorities to protect farmers' interests.

Farmer unrest has been particularly visible in parts of Saurashtra and North Gujarat, where cultivators have opposed the erection of transmission poles on agricultural land.

In Morbi district's Jetpar village, farmers have announced plans to launch an indefinite hunger strike, alleging that their grievances remain unresolved despite repeated representations and protests.

Farmer leaders claimed that thousands of cultivators had previously travelled to Gandhinagar with tractors to press their demands but were yet to receive a satisfactory resolution from the authorities.

The state government has not issued an official response to the latest protest call.