Karnataka - Madikeri   

Total electrification in Kodagu in phase II of 11th Plan

MADIKERI: Comprehensive electrification of villages and hamlets, including tribal “hadis” (colonies) in Kodagu , under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) will be taken up in phase II of the 11th Plan.

This puts to rest the confusion over implementation of the project in the district. Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had written to president of Kodagu Zilla Panchayat Deerghakeshi Shivanna on June 25 stating that Kodagu project was a high-cost one and in view of the financial constraints, electrification work had been earmarked for phase II.

The letter stated that the Union Cabinet had approved continuation of RGGVY under the 11th Plan for taking up new projects under phase I, besides the ongoing projects of the 10th Plan. These projects would be implemented subject to a budgetary limit of Rs. 28,000 crore.

Mr. Shinde had stated that Rural Electrification Corporation had received a detailed project report from Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (Kodagu is now under Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation) to electrify villages and hamlets with an outlay of Rs. 33.61 crore.

Kodagu has been a completely electrified district on paper for many years. The CESC, which has awarded tenders to a private company, has now its fingers crossed. In a zilla panchayat meeting here recently, some elected representatives argued that the scheme had come into being in Kodagu when CESC superintending engineer Shanti clarified that it was yet to be approved.

The issue of drawing power lines in forests for the benefit of tribal people living in the “hadis” (colonies) had come under focus when the Department of Forests had objected to it. An official in Hunsur had said that permissions from the State Government and the Centre were needed to allow erecting poles and drawing lines within the forests. J.P. Raju, president of the Budakattu Krishikara Sangha, had led the tribal people in the protests.

Tribal people had locked the Anechowkur gates bordering Mysore-Kodagu in January in protest. Again, in July, they locked the Nanachi gate, Murkal gate and the Karmad gate, all in Nagarahole National Park limits to vent their ire against the department.

The Union Government has clearly laid down rules for diversion of forest lands for non-forest purposes under the Forest Conservation Act of 1980. Under this, it allows for drawing of power lines in the forests.

The tribal people have argued that since it comes under the Act, electrification of their “hadis” could be carried out.

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