Kerala announces revenue sharing policy for tribals

Friday, September 16, 2011: UDF government in Kerala today announced a revenue sharing policy for tribals who assign their land to set up wind energy units in the state.
As per an order issued, the owners would get five per cent of the revenue from the sale of power generated at the wind farms set up in their lands, an official release said. The order would be applicable to all tribal lands in the state where there was possibility of setting up wind energy farm units, the release added.

The order assumes significance against the backdrop of the row over a government package to settle the dispute over alleged possession of tribal land by Suzlon Energy Ltd for setting up a wind energy farm at Attappady in Palakkad district.
Under the package, the company was allowed to function in the area on the condition of sharing revenue with the tribal families whose land had gone into its hands.
The issue ran into controversy as there were allegations that the company had acquired tribal land in violation of existing tribal rules. The UDF, when in Opposition, had alleged that the company had illegally occupied tribal land and the previous LDF government had been siding with it disregarding interests of the tribals.

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