Coimbatore
In Tirupur, farmers resorted to road blocks in four places pressing their demand to scrap the project executed by the Power Grid Corporation of India. As many as 299 farmers were arrested for holding protests in Palladam, Dharapuram, Kangeyam and Madathukulam areas.
Members of various Opposition political parties also joined the protests organised by the farmers. They shouted slogans against the state and the Central governments for implementing a project by snatching away their livelihood.
In Erode district, around 212 persons were arrested for holding similar protests. In Coimbatore too more than 200 persons were arrested for resorting to road blocks in areas such as Karumathampatty four-road junction, Sultanpet and in Pollachi. The arrested farmers were later released on station bail.
The farmers have been protesting over the last two years against erecting high power transmission towers through agricultural lands. The protesting farmers claim that the power lines traverse through thousands of acres of fertile farmlands. They fear that their lands will lose the market value if the power lines crisscross through their lands.
The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited and the state government’s Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation Limited have proposed to erect transmission towers on agriculture lands in as many as 13 districts.
Opposing the project, the farmers sought the state and the Central governments to carry out the project by laying underground cables similar to Kerala and abroad or take up an alternative pathway without disturbing the farmlands.
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