Dakshina Kannada: Farmers object to UKTL works, seek meeting over crop damage

Mangaluru: Farmers raised objections to the work of Udupi-Kasargode Transmission Limited (UKTL), which is carrying out the Udupi–Kasaragod 400 kV Transmission Line project, during a grievances meeting chaired by deputy commissioner Darshan HV at Praja Soudha Thursday.They said transmission towers were being installed on agricultural land even before payments were made. Alleging that workers were destroying standing crops during the work, farmers demanded that a meeting with the company be convened at the earliest.Raitha Sangha leader Yadava Shetty asked whom farmers should approach when agricultural land was "destroyed forcibly". "Most of the issues of the people can be solved if meetings involving the officials concerned are organised," he said.Farmers also demanded the withdrawal of all cases filed in connection with protests against the project. "Farmers grew their crops through hard work, and they should wait until they harvested them. Why should they lay the transmission line on agricultural land? The district administration and police should hold discussions and solve the issue," a farmer said.DC Darshan said several meetings had already been held at the taluk and DC levels on the project. "Enhancement of compensation does not come under the purview of the DC. As per the demands of farmers, compensation is being given for standing crops too. There is no point in holding a meeting at this phase, as the DPR was prepared about nine years ago. Hence, it is not possible to change the alignment of the transmission line when 90% of the work is complete," he said.A clarification from UKTLMeanwhile, UKTL stated in a release that all project activities are being carried out in strict compliance with applicable laws, state regulations, govt notifications, and directions issued by the district administration from time to time."It is unfortunate that certain misconceptions have arisen regarding compensation. UKTL consistently makes every effort to engage with and align landowners through transparent dialogue. The integrity of our processes — particularly those relating to Right of Way (RoW) and compensation — remains paramount. Compensation is determined strictly in accordance with legal provisions, and 100% of the amount is disbursed to landowners prior to commencement of work and upon execution of the formal agreement. Our objective is to ensure the timely and successful completion of the project while addressing all genuine concerns within the framework of the law," the UKTL stated.Permission for protests near Praja SoudhaYadava Shetty sought permission for organisations to hold protests near Praja Soudha. "It is a right of all organisations to hold protests for demands, but it is curtailed in the district. Dakshina Kannada district had the tradition of people holding protests in front of the DC office for their demands. Why were the rights of people to express their grievances snatched?" he asked.The DC said there were no restrictions on submitting memorandums. "Many organisations submitted their memorandums, either personally to me or to the additional DC or assistant commissioner. Since several departments function in Praja Soudha complex, it is not possible to allow a mass gathering for a long duration," he said, adding that he would ask DCP (law and order) Mithun to identify a designated location for organisations to protest..