ATTEMPTS TO RE SATRT RS588.25 CRORE POWER PROJECT

Madikeri February 18

A meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner here appealed to the people to allow crossing of high tension wire across the forests and estates of Kodagu.

The DC called this meeting as the rupees 588.25 crore power project came to a standstill after severe protests were organized in South Kodagu against it during last year. Planters and environmentalists opposed it tooth and nail and gheraoed the officials who attempted to construct power structures.

The project has a proposal to provide power to Calicut from kaiga. The project is almost through with structures coming up between Periyapatna and calicut, except at Kutta. The people here have raised objection to cross their estates and forests in about 106 kilometers. While 4.5 kilometers of reserved forest and 101.5 kilometers of paddy fields and estates have to be crossed, the planters and environmentalists are alleging that it endangers the life of wild life and other species. The state government has Okayed the project crossing these areas.

DC Baladeva Krishna addressed the meeting yesterday and said that the project has to take off and the land owners should co operate. Col.Muthanna (Retd), president of the Coorg Wild Life Society and convenor of Cauvery Sene, Ravi Chengappa urged the DC to postpone the meeting as the land owners whose areas come under this project were absent. DC said that they were all invited for the meeting. However, the project officials who were present explained the benefits of it. Baladevakrishna said that the meeting is called to collect the opinions of the people and he will record their opinions.

The general manager of power corporation, Krishnakumar and other officials Raghuram, Abraham presented a power point show and explained that the project was planned in the interest of multi states and it will not have any adverse effect on people, animals or environment. Seventy percent of the project is over except for the stretch it has to cross in Kodagu, they said.

Muthanna, Ravi Chengappa and Codagu Planters Association chairman Dulip Nanjappa stated that the line has to be shifted from its present location. They appealed to spare the rare flora and fauna of Kodagu.

DC Baladevakrishna appealed to members not to obstruct the survey as the decision would be taken only after the submission of survey. He informed that one more meeting would be held to collect the opinions of all the concerned people.

Assistant commissioner Akram pasha, HQA Chikkathammappa, Superintendent of police, Suresh and others were present.