Coimbatore: In wake of the ongoing protests by the farmers in Kongu region against the erection of transmission towers by the Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCI), the MPs of five districts of the Kongu region jointly visited the farmers to show their support.
Tirupur: In wake of the ongoing protests by the farmers in Kongu region against the erection of transmission towers by the Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCI), the MPs of five districts of the Kongu region jointly visited the farmers to show their support.
To highlight the plight of the farmers whose farmlands have been compromised for laying High tension (HT) lines, MPs PR Natarajan from Coimbatore, Subbarayan from Tirupur, Jothimani from Karur visited Anupatti Village in Palladam and interacted with the farmers and witnessed the repercussions of HT lines passing through farmlands.
The MPs were appalled to see tubelights, serial bulbs and street lights which are close to the HT lines glowing without any power connection.
Speaking to the press, Coimbatore MP P.R. Natarajan expressed shock and condemned the State government for affecting the livelihood of the farmers. "The Power Grid company has been blatantly lying to the farmers and the people of TN. They are focussed only on laying the grids and not the safety of the farmers. We, MP's today have come here to showcase the plight of these farmers."
Earlier, the farmers demonstrated the transmission of electricity passing through the ground. Tubelights without any wires or connections and serial bulbs without any wired connection lit up due to the electricity conducted through the body.
The MP added that these HT power lines might have very bad effect on the health of the people, over time. Hence, he urged the State government to revoke the project to save the Kongu farmers.
The MP slammed that development of the State by compromising the health of the farmers will not account to development. The State government should stand in solidarity with the citizens and not the corporates.
Seconding him, MP Jothimani of Karur Constituency accused the State government for tweaking rules to suit the needs of the Corporates. "The claims made by the AIADMK of being farmer-friendly has been proven wrong several times. The AIADMK is focused in pleasing the BJP government and not the people. Permitting to erect HT lines on farmlands is a solid proof for the government's attitude towards farmers and agriculture", she added.
"Those who are protesting or seeking explanation on an issue, are doing so because they have been affected or fear of being affected by it. The farmers here are being portrayed as anti-corporates, which is false. They now have proof for their accusation", MP Jothimani said.
MP Jothimani informed that prudent way to install these HT lines is by embedding them beneath the roads in national highways. But by doing the same in agricultural farmlands, will certainly affect the health of the people and the farmlands.