Two organisations oppose laying of HT wire

 The office-bearers of Kaveri Sene and Basavanna Devara Bana Samrakshana Trust have demanded the suspension of work on laying high-tension wire, as a part of wheeling power from Kudankulam project, here on Monday.

The members visited the work site at Devamacchi reserve forest and expressed their anguish at the Power Grid Corporation officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Basavanna Devara Bana Trust President Dr B C Nanjappa said that the project work has been initiated to loot reserve forest. Lakh of trees have been felled to implement the project. This will have an impact on the source of river Cauvery.
Kaveri Sene Convener Ravi Changappa said that in the name of development projects, environment is damaged in Kodagu. “If we fail to check mega development projects that are harmful to the district now, we will be in trouble in the future. There is a need to fight against the project. Attempts have been made to suppress the protest,” he said.
Baseless

Power Grid Corporation Additional General Manager Ravindra Kumar has said that NGOs and a few organisations are levelling false allegations that lakh of trees have been felled for laying the high-tension wire.

The 400 kv capacity high tension wire is being laid from Kudankulam to Kozhikode via Mysore and Kodagu. The work has been completed till Maldare and in Kozhikode. The work on 55-km high-tension wire has been stalled following the protest in the district.

He said “out of 55-km, the line passes through 4.5 km forest area, 38 km paddy fields and 12 km coffee estates. The forest department has already prepared a report on number of trees to be felled. As per the report, 2621 trees in forest area, 304 trees in paddy fields, and 6,000 trees in coffee estates will have to felled to facilitate the work.
“Those who have been opposing the project had filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking stay on the work. However, the HC had failed to pass a stay order. Now, they are planning to approach the green tribunal,” he added.

He said that suitable compensation will be paid for the owners of the land where high-tension wire will pass through. It was Rs 15 lakh to 18 lakh per acre of coffee estate, Rs 1.60 lakh per acre of paddy fields.

“A sum of Rs 10 crore has already been transferred to the account of the Deputy Commissioner to be distributed among those who lose land,” he said.

“On alternative route suggested by the NGOs, Kumar said that Kadakola-Kaniyampetta 220 kv line can not be upgraded. It was the government which had given nod for Mysore-Maldare-Kutta-Kozhikode line after looking into the pros and cons of the project.