‘400KV power line is a threat to our kulagars’

KERI: With the central government commencing work to set up 400KV power line to connect the state to the national grid, horticulturists from Surla and Pali villages in Bicholim taluka are worried about the threat the work will pose for their plantations, their only source of livelihood.
Horticulturists of these area alleged that they were not informed about the works. “On January 22, some unknown persons trespassed on our property and started numbering our trees. Upon inquiry they said they were undertaking a survey for work of installing electricity poles and a 400KV electricity line,” Vanita Sawaikar from Ghadiwada in Surla told TOI.

Stating that their “ancestral horticultural plantation of areca nut, coconut, banana, spices and other agricultural crops” was their only source of livelihood, Sawaikar said, “There is alternate land available for high voltage electricity line. If that is used instead, our plantation will be saved.” The Sawaikar plantation sits on survey no. 312/1 and 314. Another cry came from Deu Gawas of Pali-Ambegal who said, “This work threatens more than 1,500 areca nut and other trees in my plantation.”

Surla sarpanch Subhash Fondekar told TOI that they were only intimated about the work. “No discussions about farmers losses and compensation to be paid have been held. Our MLA has agreed to hold a meeting with the contractor.”

Narsinha Mohanti, an official which the company executing the work, said, “This work will facilitate electricity supply to Goa through the central grid. As per the state government decision, we will compensate those affected. Notices will be issued before work commences.”