Ranchi, May 8: Adani Group officials today agreed in principle to give Rs 5.5 lakh more to villagers in Godda who donate land for their proposed 1,600 MW Adani power plant, if they can't give jobs to all, at a crucial stakeholder meeting held at district collectorate conference hall.

The development comes in the wake of the state land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement committee approving more perks for land donors who part with an acre or more for the power plant in Godda that would supply electricity solely to Bangladesh.

Over and above the nearly Rs 50 lakh per acre, which the Adanis had agreed to pay in principle earlier, the state rehab panel today had approved a compensatory job for those who gave at least 2 acres or more to the proposed Adani power plant. For those who give at least one acre, the state rehab committee approved Rs 5.5 lakh additional cash as compensation but no job. It recommended proportional cash compensations to those who give smaller plots.

In response, a senior executive of Adani Group, who is overseeing land acquisition in Godda, maintained his company would give Rs 5.5 lakh cash compensation to all land donors who can't secure compensatory jobs so as to avoid new complications.

He added all other demands of land donors such as financial aid for the marriages of sisters and daughters, schools, hospitals, roads, drinking water supply, had been accepted.

This crucial meeting, which was presided over by Godda land revenue deputy collector Anil Tirkey, saw prominent participants such as Godda MP Nishikant Dubey, Godda MLA Amit Kumar Mandal, Mahagama MLA Ashok Kumar, senior officials of Godda district administration, senior executives Adani Group and women representatives of SC / ST families that would be affected by the power project.

"Though the district minister in-charge C.P. Singh could not come today, he authorised the Mahagama MLA to represent him. Poreyahat MLA Pradip Yadav, who is now in divisional jail here, had aired his views through a letter. The Adanis have also agreed to uniformly give Rs 5.5 lakh more compensation to all land donors who cannot be given compensatory jobs. All other demands of land donors too have been accepted," a member of land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement committee said.

The Adanis would be acquiring 917.37 acre lands for their power project. They have agreed to pay Rs 4,910,400 or nearly Rs 50 lakh per acre to land donors apart from compensatory jobs and several other benefits in tune with company's corporate social responsibility scheme.

"Distribution of land transfer compensation would start soon. Our aim is to make the project functional within three years. Land donors would always get preference during job recruitments," an Adani official said.