Panel to ensure power line bypasses elephant corridor

BANGALORE: There are concerns over a 400 KV high-tension power line connecting Tamil Nadu to Kerala via Karnataka passing through elephant corridors in the three states. To ensure it doesn't happen and to provide alternate routes inside protected areas, the state government has constituted a three-member committee. The panel comprises IISc professor Raman Sukumar, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF) Ajai Mishra and director of Central Power Research Institute Shivakumara Aradhya R S.
This project aims to provide power from Tamil Nadu's Kudankulam nuclear power project to Kerala, passing through the reserve forest area in Kushalnagar.
The experts have been asked to deliberate and provide alternate routes inside the protected areas for the power line to pass. This committee's primary responsibility is to ensure that damage to environment is minimal and even elephant corridors are undisturbed.
The work on laying the cable has been completed in Kerala as well as in Tamil Nadu. The authorities are waiting to complete the work in Kodagu so that the project can be commissioned at the earliest.
High-tension lines have been laid from Kozhikode in Kerala to Kutta (border of South Kodagu) and from Yelwala in Mysore to Lingapura (another border of Kodagu). Importantly, laying wires in South Kodagu is important for wheeling power.
"The line has been laid in all the non-forest areas and people are hoping that the committee will give viable alternatives," said Colonel C P Muthanna, president, Coorg Wildlife Society.
"The line through Nagarahole National Park is the shortest. We, however, need to study and discuss the alternate routes inside the protected areas to suggest the same to the state government," said Mishra.
Locals protest
A large quantity of forest wealth would be lost going by the initial proposal. As many as 50,000 trees will have to be sacrificed for the power project. In the past there was huge opposition to the setting up of this power transmission line as it passed through 30 km of coffee estate, 20 km of paddy field and 4.5 km of protected forest land in Kodagu. Work was stalled for an interim period and has resumed now.
Local farmers had said that apart from the loss of flora and fauna, it would also result in the wild animals plundering the farmers' properties. The elephant corridor in the region would also be disturbed.
"We will have meetings shortly to look at alternate routes. The objective is to keep the elephant corridors intact," said elephant expert Raman Sukumar.
The power produced at the 2000MW Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu is meant for the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.