Madikeri: The Cauvery Sene, an organisation fighting corruption in public offices, on Thursday opposed the proposed 400 kV power transmission line from Kaiga to Kerala, passing through forests and paddy fields in Kodagu alleging it would harm the environment and the people.

The Power Grid Corporation of India is undertaking the project.

The sene, with the support of various non-government organisations and associations, would organise a convention to oppose the project at Gonicoppa in Virajpet taluk on September 10, Ravi Chengappa, convenor of the district body of the sene, told presspersons here.

He said the proposed power transmission line would be deleterious to the environment of the district as high-tension power lines exposed human beings to diseases. The environment of the district would have to bear the brunt.

The power lines were expected to come from Hunsur to Periyapatna and pass through Kodagu via Devamachi forest area, Maldare, Hundi, Muruvanda Estate, Craigmore Estate, Kayambetta, Stone Hill, Mayamudi, Besgur, Bekkesodlur, Harihara, Nalkeri, Cheepekolli, Kembukolli, Faith Estate in Kutta, Tolpatti and Katikola Checkpost, Mr. Chengappa said. Besides, the lines would pass through numerous paddy fields all along its route.

Subramani and other members of the sene demanded that if the Power Grid Corporation of India wanted to take the lines to Kerala it should be done either by removing the teak plantations in the forests or through the outskirts of Kodagu. A high-tension power line had passed through the forests in Kodagu to Kerala. Power lines could even displace the people. Evacuees would have to fend for themselves as the oustees of the Harangi and Hemavati reservoir projects were yet to be rehabilitated, he said.

The members also criticised the claims of the Power Grid Corporation of India that power transmitted via Kodagu would help the district tide over the power crisis. Would the company establish a grid on the outskirts of Kodagu for doing so? they asked. Mr. Chengappa said survey was conducted only to pay compensation to paddy field owners and not coffee plantations. A bulk of the area through which the lines passed was coffee plantations.

He said the Virajpet taluk panchayat, gram panchayats of Badaga-Banangala, Nalkeri, Mayamudi in Virajpet taluk had passed resolutions against the proposed project, saying it would be harmful to life and property. If the Government was interested in the development of the district, it should take steps to improve roads, appoint doctors in government hospitals and improve their efficiency, as also educational institutions, and provide help and succour to farmers.

He claimed that the Power Grid Corporation of India was planning to draw the power lines through the district's paddy fields and forests only to save expenditure. Forestlands that were destroyed once could not be replenished. What caused dangers to the district's environment were the granite mining activities in Somwarpet, proposal to set up 16 mini hydel power projects in various parts of the district, planting of acacia and teak in the garb of conservation, Mr. Chengappa said.

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