POWER GRID WORK RAISES TENSION;

Madikeri January 11, 2008

Attempt to pull a high tension wire line from South Kodagu today created tension and police rushed to the spot to thwart any untoward incident.

Members of the Cauvery Sene, led by Ravi Chengappa and public staged a protest today at Kanur village as the Power Grid Corporation began digging pits in a Jamma land to pull the high tension line in spite of opposition. The protestors stalled the work and demanded them to vacate the spot. Police led by DySP Rajanna swarmed the place and appealed the protestors to allow work.

MLC Arun Machaiah, Taluk panchayath president Saritha, Zilla panchayath members and other representatives assembled at the spot and questioned the Power grid corporation Assistant General manager Mathew Abraham as to what authority he has to enter Jamma land. Abraham stated that the district Superintendent of Police and deputy Commissioner have given permission and forest department involving DFOs has also conducted survey before the work began. Protestors said that they cannot trespass into Jamma lands. But the AGM is adamant and said that they can not stop the work.

The protestors are demanding the presence of Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police.

The Deputy Commissioner Niranjan today said that he will call a meeting in three days to solve the burning issue of taking high tension wire through South Kodagu.

Niranjans reaction comes as people statged a protest against the 55 KM high tention wire passing through Kodagu from Kaanur village in South kodagu. He has asked the power grid company to stop the work till the consensus is arrived at.

Tension prevailed at kanur today as people blocked the work of Power grid people. Pits were dug in jamma and other lands without taking the consent of land owners.

According to the Assistant general manager of power grid corporation, Mathew Abraham, they need not seek the permission of land owners under Indian Telegraph act an 2003 electrical act.

Protest was called off after the assurance by the DC. DC was contacted over phone by the DySP Rajanna.

ELEPHANTS MAKE MERRY;

People from a cluster of villages around Kudige have complained that a herd of elephants is roaming freely around; sending waves of panic and destroying crops.

In a complaint to forest department they have said that the herd has damaged crops belonging to Channappa and Puttappa at Heggadadevana village recently.

They have appealed to forest department to catch them as they cannot enter their fields for work, this being a peak agriculture season and children cannot go to schools without fear too.

LINE MAN ELECTROCUTED;

A CESCOM line man Sidda, 23 died of electrocution while on duty.

According to a complaint, he was checking the line on 8th afternoon and came in contact with a live wire and died on the spot.

The incident was reported from Sunticoppa.

Sunticoppa police have registered a case.

KODAVA SAMAJ CONDEMNS INCIDENT;

Kodava Samaj Kushalnagar has condemned the incident of attack on Chowrira family by the members of Karnataka Rakshana vedike recently.

President C.A.Muddappa has said that the Vedike has resorted to Goodaism and they should be dealt with seriously.

Kodava samaj also passed a resolution condemning the Kodava Academy president Dotty Povaiah for involving in corrupt practices. She has brought shame to the community and a weekly magazine brought out by her husband should be boycotted, the president said.