Coimbatore, January 2
Condemning against the erection of new power grid lines for power distribution for which a survey has been carried out on agricultural lands, the farmers of Karumathampatti town panchayat in Sulur taluk have demanded that the authorities should find an alternative route or use cable lines for power distribution as practiced in western countries.
A new survey to install a power grid line from Power station in Pugalur to Arasalur substation has been carried out by officials, which was in not only in close proximity to the alignment of an existing power line but also inimical to interests of the farming community say the farmers.
Due to the erection of old power grid line from Udumalpet through farmlands, in the past, a grave threat was posed to the farming community of the villages who are forced to give up their holdings.
In the meanwhile a second power line if installed on the near the old alignment would sound death knell to the prospects of the farmers in the region” said NSP Vetri, farmer leader of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam (non- party based)
“A single power gird tower takes away about 3.5 acres of the fertile land and it also fragments the agricultural lands thus putting the farmer in an unenviable situation, “he said.
“The compensation given to the farmers for installing power gird towers have been inadequate “complains Velusamy, another farmer.
However, a TANGEDCO official speaking to Simplicity said that such schemes are beneficial to farmers as it brings the availability of electricity for farming operations. The compensation would reach the farmer despite some delay in the process”
However, the affected farmers said that the intention of the farming community is not to stand in the way of development but to introduce cable line for power distribution mechanism instead of relying on the old method. Cable lines are used in big cities like Mumbai, Delhi and in European countries to transport power efficiently.
Condemning against the erection of new power grid lines for power distribution for which a survey has been carried out on agricultural lands, the farmers of Karumathampatti town panchayat in Sulur taluk have demanded that the authorities should find an alternative route or use cable lines for power distribution as practiced in western countries.
A new survey to install a power grid line from Power station in Pugalur to Arasalur substation has been carried out by officials, which was in not only in close proximity to the alignment of an existing power line but also inimical to interests of the farming community say the farmers.
Due to the erection of old power grid line from Udumalpet through farmlands, in the past, a grave threat was posed to the farming community of the villages who are forced to give up their holdings.
In the meanwhile a second power line if installed on the near the old alignment would sound death knell to the prospects of the farmers in the region” said NSP Vetri, farmer leader of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam (non- party based)
“A single power gird tower takes away about 3.5 acres of the fertile land and it also fragments the agricultural lands thus putting the farmer in an unenviable situation, “he said.
“The compensation given to the farmers for installing power gird towers have been inadequate “complains Velusamy, another farmer.
However, a TANGEDCO official speaking to Simplicity said that such schemes are beneficial to farmers as it brings the availability of electricity for farming operations. The compensation would reach the farmer despite some delay in the process”
However, the affected farmers said that the intention of the farming community is not to stand in the way of development but to introduce cable line for power distribution mechanism instead of relying on the old method. Cable lines are used in big cities like Mumbai, Delhi and in European countries to transport power efficiently.