JOIN USCoffee growers swung into protest mode on Thursday and expressed their opposition to the hi-tension wire laying work, by closing the pits dug out for the work by Power Grid Corporation at Nallur near Gonikoppa, on Thursday.
The company had started the work of digging pits in Nallur village under police protection. Iron materials required for laying the hi-tension line were brought to the location. Angered over it, the protesters began protesting alleging the government of cheating farmers. Protesters including over 50 women agriculturists took Tahsildar Prasanna to task.
They demanded the Tahsildar to ensure that the government withdraws its order on the project. In response, the Tahsildar said that the court has stayed several objections raised by organisations towards the project, hence the project could not be stopped. However, owing to the protesters’ demand, he instructed the company officials to show the route map of the project and survey numbers to the agriculturists.
As the copy produced by Power Grid Corporation officer Raveendra Kumar did not contain information of route map and survey numbers, the protesters poured a list of questions on the Tahsildar. He then contacted the higher officials and ordered the company officials to stop the project work as they lacked necessary documents about the project.
But, the attitude of the Power Grid officers who went on to neglect the order of the Tahsildar irked protesters, who in turn questioned the company official. Tensed atmosphere was created for a while, due to which police escorted the officials from the venue. As per the officials order, the workers left the spot with JCB and trucks.
Soon, the Tahsildar addressed the protesters and said that the deputy commissioner has ordered to continue the hi-tension work. Therefore, he suggested the protesters to directly contact the DC and the superintendent of police for any further clarification.
This led the protesters to shout slogans against the DC for not visiting the spot even after farmers getting down to street with the fear of losing their land. They claimed that the Power Grid Corporation has not obtained permission from Maldare Gram Panchayat, for starting the wok, as per the legal procedure.
Meantime, it was learnt that the district administration was planning to transfer Tahsildar Prasanna as he ordered against the hi-tension wire work, causing irritation to the higher officials. The protesters demanded not to transfer the Tahsildar and warned of staging district-wide protest, if any attempt is made to transfer him.
Meanwhile, Taluk Panchayat Member Tatu Monnappa and Ponnappasanthe Gram Panchayat President Adengada Vinu Utthappa have requested the GP, TP and ZP members of those areas where hi-tension wire passes, to get set to resign from their posts opposing the project.
In a new development, Hi-tension Vidyuth Marga Virodhi Okkuta and Rajya Raita Sangha in association with other organisations has decided to stage a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office on April 25.