Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jan 23: People of the district have been saying that in the name of development, a number of industries, pipelines, power projects etc have come up in coastal Karnataka by taking away land of the people. Now they have come across another shock. A power line project to transmit electricity generated by Udupi Power Corporation Ltd at Padubidri to Kerala has been taken up. This project will destroy large tracts of agricultural land and forests. It is said that without giving any information to the people, survey was conducted and road was built to Kumki land of individuals at Kollapadavu in Kepu village, Bantwal taluk without any advance information. The people also say that even pits have been dug without consulting them.

The above project is of Rs 847 crore and planned to satiate the power requirement of north Kerala and to handle load transfer on this line. 310 foundations will be constructed for installing towers of which 183 towers will be located in Karnataka. People of the villages through which the line will pass are worried. There is demand to lay underground cables to transmit power instead of huge towers.

Raita Sangha has issued a threat of launching an agitation if the power line passes through the agricultural lands. The locals are also opposed to the idea of transmission of power to Kerala by using Karnataka land.