Mangaluru: The Federation of Udupi-Kasaragod 400kV Power Transmission Line Action Committees submitted a memorandum on Friday to the nodal officer of Udupi-Kasaragod Transmission Company Ltd (UKTL). The federation members urged the assistant commissioner of Mangaluru subdivision, who is the nodal officer of UKTL, to implement the revised guidelines of the govt while developing the transmission line.
"We oppose the Udupi-Kasaragod 400kV power transmission line as it will destroy our farms and properties. However, Sterlite Power Grid Ventures Ltd harasses landowners by not following the rules and guidelines. We demand that any power transmission line above 66kV capacity should be developed by following the revised guidelines of the Union ministry of power and the Karnataka govt. We will protect our agricultural land at any cost, if the govt fails to fulfil our demand," members of the federation stated in the memorandum.
Mathrbhoomi Samrakshana Samithi president Alphonse D'Souza, a resident of Niddodi, said that the govt should explore alternative routes to implement the project, instead of destroying agricultural land. The livelihood of many farmers in several villages, including Inna, Edapadavu, Vitla, Elinje, Aikala, Ulepady, and other regions in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, will be affected due to the power line, he said.
Elinje Sukheshchandra Shetty, convener of the federation, said that the 400kV power transmission line may lead to health issues too. "Farmers in coastal districts have small pieces of land, and the power line will be laid through the fertile farmlands and houses. Farmers will not be able to construct houses, cultivate land, and rear cattle once the power line is laid. There are many other technologies that will solve the problems of farmers. They may consider laying underground cables avoiding farmlands or implementing the project by the side of the national highway or on the seashore," he said.
The UKTL, a special-purpose vehicle, is implementing the 115km long 400 kV (quad) DC transmission lines to improve the reliability and stability of power supply in the northern area of Kerala, and relieve congestion between the S1 (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka) and S2 (Tamil Nadu, Kerala) corridor.