Thousands Join Morbi Farmers’ March as Jetpar Power Line Compensation Stir Enters Phase 3

The agitation over compensation for power transmission lines in Jetpar village entered its third phase on Wednesday, with thousands of farmers and women participating in a march in Morbi and submitting a memorandum to the district collector seeking amendments to the Gujarat government’s recently issued compensation policy.

The protest followed the completion of the second phase of an ongoing hunger strike. Organised under the banner of Gujarat Khedut Chhavani, Jetpar (Machhu), the latest phase of the movement, titled Satyagraha Part 3, centres on opposition to a July 4 government resolution that lays down compensation norms for land affected by electricity transmission infrastructure.

Thousands Participate in Morbi Protest

Thousands of farmers from the affected villages participated in the march, which began at Mahendranagar Chowkdi. Women also joined the protest in large numbers. Protesters carried banners highlighting what they described as the injustice faced by cultivators under the new compensation framework and raised slogans as the procession passed through the Samakatha locality before reaching the district collector’s office.

Representatives of gram panchayats from 365 villages submitted a memorandum to the collector, urging the state government to amend the resolution. Farmers have alleged that the circular issued by the Gujarat government’s Energy and Petrochemicals Department does not adequately protect the interests of landowners affected by power transmission projects.

Also read: Gujarat Farmers Reject Govt Talks Over Power Lines Row, Demand Written Guarantee

Collector Says Market Rate Committee Is in Place

Responding to the agitation, Morbi district collector Swapnil Khare said that, in line with the demands raised by Jetpar farmers, a market rate committee had already been constituted and included representatives of the farming community.

The collector said that, as per the government resolution, installation of transmission poles would begin only after the market rate committee finalises the compensation amount. He said instructions had already been issued to appoint valuers in consultation with the concerned company.

He further stated that work would commence only after farmers receive 100% of the compensation due and urged them to nominate their representatives at the earliest to facilitate timely payments. The collector also acknowledged receiving the fresh memorandum submitted by the protesters.

Farmers Seek Changes Under Telegraph Act

In their memorandum, the farmers sought amendments to the Energy and Petrochemicals Department’s resolution (Reference No. EPCD/ELA/E-file/20/2023/1173/K), dated July 4, 2026, governing compensation for transmission lines under the Electricity Act, 2003, and the Telegraph Act, 1885.

They argued that the resolution should be revised in accordance with Section 10(D) of the Telegraph Act to ensure minimal losses to landowners and full compensation for affected agricultural land.

The memorandum also demanded that implementation of the July 4 resolution be suspended until the requested amendments are incorporated.