New Delhi, Oct. 25 -- Delays in securing land and right of way for transmission lines are threatening India's renewable energy expansion. The Union ministry of power on 6 October issued revised guidelines for compensating landowners, setting out a framework to determine market value where circle rates fall short.

States that have yet to specify how land value should be assessed can adopt the guidelines in full or issue modified policies.

Mint examines the key provisions and their implications for transmission expansion, energy security and India's clean energy ambitions.

The guidelines apply to inter-state transmission projects where compensation disputes arise because circle rates are lower than prevailing market rates. In such cases,...