Karnataka - Madikeri   

People asked to allow survey for power transmission line

Madikeri: Kodagu Deputy Commissioner M.K. Baladevakrishna, on Tuesday, appealed to farmers and coffee growers in the district to allow the Power Grid Corporation of India to survey the lands to assess the feasibility of the proposed 400 kV double-circuit power transmission line that will pass through Kodagu.

Mr. Baladevakrishna was speaking at a meeting held to discuss the project. Besides the Coorg Wildlife Society and the Cauvery Sene, several farmers and growers mostly from the southern parts of the district have opposed the project. They argue that the project will deprive them of their lands, plantations, paddy fields. The project will be a health hazard and have adverse effect on the environment.

According to a press release, Mr. Baladevakrishna said the survey will document the status of the farmers and growers whether they are small or marginal and also survey numbers of the lands.

The 400 kV double-circuit power transmission line will start at Kaiga and is expected to enter Kerala after passing through Mysore and Kodagu. Work on the project is complete till Periyapatna in Mysore district.

In Kodagu, the survey will assess the feasibility of drawing of the power line and the issue of whether it will materialise or not will be decided only at a later stage, Mr. Baladevakrishna said.

After the survey, a meeting will be convened in which MP, MLAs, MLCs, local elected representatives, farmers and growers will participate. It is at that meeting that a final decision on the project will be taken up, he added.

Mr. Baladevakrishna said survey was required to assess how much land that belongs to farmers and growers will be affected; whether there is human population in areas where the proposed lines would pass; whether it would create problems; whether it will pose health hazard.

M. Krishna Kumar, an official of the Power Grid Corporation of India, said that the passing of the power lines would in no way affect people or cattle. It will not result in destruction of environment, he added. On the other hand, it will benefit people.

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