Udupi: Yellur Gram Panchayat Residents Stop KPTCL High Tension Cable Work
 
By Inchara–Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD)
 
Udupi, May 15: The residents of Yellur gram panchayat forcibly stopped the laying of high tension cables for transmitting 400 KV electricity to Hassan from UPCL (Udupi Power Corporation Limited) power plant by Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) on Monday May 14.
 
Yellur gram panchayat president Sumana, member Jayant Kumar, Nagesh Bhat, ZP member Arun Shetty, VHP district vice-president Prakash Shetty, Navin N Shetty, and others hindered the laying of high tension cables by KPTCL supported by police security, on Monday morning.

 
KPTCL superintendent engineer Govind Rao and executive engineer P D B Rao said that the high tension cables are being laid on the orders of the deputy commissioner (DC).  However, the protesters said that permission was granted by the DC in relation to carrying out the work from Nandikoor to Hassan and they will not allow any work under the limits of Yellur gram panchayat. The permission of the gram panchayat was needed to go ahead with the works.
 
“The work on laying high tension cables for a distance of 180 km from Shanti village in Hassan to UPCL is underway and nearly 90 percent of it has been completed.  Three towers and laying of high tension cables is pending in the limits of Yellur and Nandikoor.  If the transmission cables pass through forest areas, then the permission of respective gram panchayats has to be obtained while in other cases its not necessary,” said P D B Rao to media persons.
 
Elderly Vishwanath Bhat laid down in front of the KPTCL truck despite the hot sun, expressing his anguish over the snatching of basic right to live and said he would not allow any work.
 
Other residents Raghavendra Bhat, Muddu Moolya and family pled that the concerned department had not issued them the notice and awarded any compensation, and instead forcibly tries to undertake the work on their land.
 
KPTCL officer Govind Rao replied that the compensation cheque has been denied by the beneficiaries, alleging that the amount was very low.
 
Kaup circle inspector Shivanand Walekar, and Padubidri sub-inspector Mahadev Shetty provided heavy security at the location.
 
KPTCL assistant executive engineers Mohan and Praveen, and executive engineer Kumar were present.

Meanwhile, the work was resumed after the written orders of the DC to this effect were presented by KPTCL officers to the leader of protesters at about 3.15 pm on Monday.