Farmers protest against Udupi-Kasaragod 400 kV, Paladka-Kadandale 400/200 kV Power Transmission Line projects

Farmers protest against Udupi-Kasaragod power transmission line projects in Mangaluru, citing environmental and agricultural concerns.

Farmers took out a procession and held a protest in Mangaluru on Thursday, February 20, opposing Udupi-Kasaragod 400 kV and Paladkka-Kadandale 400/200 kV Power Transmission Line projects.

The protest was held under the auspices of Catholic Sabhas of Mangaluru and Udupi and federation of action committees of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, opposing the two projects.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion at the Clock Tower, Ronald (Roy) Castelino, Public Relations Officer, Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore, said that the two projects will affect farmers, their crop and their farmlands as the high tension overhead transmission lines will pass through farm lands. The lines once commissioned are likely to create health issues among people living nearby, he said.

Mr. Castelino said that farmers have been submitting memoranda to government officials and elected representatives opposing the projects since past five years. None are responding to farmers.

Huge towers will come up in the power corridor at every 500 m distance coming in the way of farming, he said.

Referring to the 115 k.m. long Udupi-Kasaragod 400 kV transmission line project he said that it will affect people in 27 villages between Kaup and Punacha.

Mr. Castelino, also the former chairman of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, said that 1,150 acres of fertile farmland with standing crops will be directly lost to the project in the twin districts. In addition, 2,300 acres will be lost as no shed, building or structure can be built upto 46 metres (buffer area) on either sides of the line. Mr. Castelino said that 2.65 lakh arecanut trees, over one lakh coconut trees, 4.5 lakh pepper vines, 1.5 lakh rubber trees, 25,000 jackfruit trees, 28,000 mango and 2.5 lakh other wild trees will be lost to the project.