NewsKarnataka-Siddapura
Siddapura: The laying of high tension cables and erecting of towers en route from Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu through Karnataka to Kerala, at the wooded area located in Kushalanagar forest range is underway. The state-owned energy enterprise pressed the earthmovers to repair the access road, by clearing 651 trees and nearly completed 1.3 kilometers of laying high tension cables. In order to lay about 2.7 kilometers of high tension cables in the Titimati forest range, an estimated 2,000 treed had to be axed, said the power grid officer C D Kishore.
Fifty kilometers of laying of high tension cables in the villages of Maldare, Badaga Banangala, Chennayyanakote, Chennangi, Nallukote, Mayamudi, Danugala, Rudrabeedu, Nallur, T Shettigeri, Srimangala, Nalkeri, Kanoor, Badaga, Kutta that comes under the limits of Virajapete taluk will have to be done to enable onward works in Kerala. The farmers in the region were informed, while Rs 10 crore has been reserved by power grid organization to award compensation to farmers for land acquisition. It would be distributed through Deputy Commissioner. Approximately Rs 15 to 18 lac of compensation is fixed for an acre of coffee plantation, Rs 1.6 for an acre of farmland, and also for other crops. The project will have impact on people and environment, added Kishore.
The execution of project had begun in 2006, it’s the high tension power project originated from Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu through Karnataka to Kerala. It will pass through Lingapura reserve forest that lies on the boundary of Kodagu. The total project cost is Rs 600 crore while Rs 500 crore works have already completed. The rest of the project worth Rs 100 crore will have to be carried out in Kodagu district. A meeting was held with the coffee planters and over 12 villagers are co-operating to complete the works at the earliest, said Kishore.