5 days ago
Farmers demand fair compensation for land acquired for power transmission lines
Members of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers' Association have demanded fair compensation for farmers who have lost their agricultural lands to the 66/11 kV and 220 kV power transmission lines passing through their fields under the Hunsur sub-division from the Gejjeyanavaddaragudi power station.
The farmers, who took part in a protest, condemned the authorities for fixing compensation without providing proper information or holding consultations with landowners. They alleged that the officials prepared 'false reports' and fixed compensation without their consent.
'A minimum compensation of ₹6 lakh a gunta should be fixed,' the farmers demanded, pointing out that land prices in layout areas (in Kadakola and Vajamangala areas where power transmission lines also pass through their fields) range between ₹6 lakh and ₹10 lakh a gunta, while the authorities are offering ₹50,000 to ₹60,000, which they described as inadequate.
They urged the district administration to withdraw the mandatory Aadhaar registration and meter installation for agricultural pumpset users, continue the Akrama-Sakrama (regularisation) scheme for pumpsets, and provide free electricity connections to farmers whose lands are affected by the high-tension I-Power lines.
They also demanded electricity connections to houses constructed within orchards and agricultural fields for the benefit of students and elderly residents.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Shivraj received the memorandum from farmers in the absence of Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy.
The association's State prganising secretary Attahalli Devaraj, district general secretary Baradanapura Nagaraj, district vice-president Marballi Neelakanthappa, and nearly 100 farmers took part in the protest.
