Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Jan 27: Farmers from Arala, Panjikallu, Neerapalke, Sornadu, Loretto etc staged protests on Tuesday in the leadership of farmers' association, opposing the plans to pull electric cables from Udupi towards Kerala. They dug out the survey marks made on the land. Meanwhile, the farmers erected signboards stating that they are not giving their land to anybody else.

Hasiru Sene chief secretary Ravi Kiran Puncha objected to the markings made without informing villagers. He objected the breaking of the rules to make the 400 KV transmission lines pass through farmland.

Dakshina Kannada farmers association president Oswald Fernandes questioned the permission granted for the project which would likely cost farmers their land. “The ruling party has been suppressing the farmers. We will not hesitate to sacrifice even our lives to prevent such incidents,” he said.

Taluk farmers association president Premnath Shetty Balthila said protests were also held to remove the markings made for the installation of mobile towers. Protests committee convener Roy Carlo addressed the protesters.

K H Khader Arala, Concepta D’Sa and others were present.