Residents of Velappanayakkanvalasu in Vellakoil, Tirupur, have lodged complaints and demonstrated against the unauthorized construction of a substation. Allegations suggest disregard for official permissions.
Coimbatore: In a recent development near Vellakoil in Tirupur District, the construction of a substation is causing uproar among the local residents. According to the locals, the work is progressing in full swing at Velappanayakkanvalasu village without the requisite approvals from the village council or proper regulatory oversight.
Reports indicate that the land, spanning 14 acres at Raghupaiyanvalasu near Kurukupalayam, was purchased by a private company known for owning several wind farms in Karur district. The electricity generated from these farms is planned to be routed to this new substation and then distributed across a distance of 20 kilometers, involving the establishment of high-tension towers and electrical pathways through several agricultural lands.
This move has sparked significant discontent among the farming community since the onset. The farmers argue that the configuration and placement of high-tension electrical towers and pathways could potentially devalue their lands, disrupt the natural landscape, and adversely affect their agricultural activities. Furthermore, villagers report that company employees had coerced entry into private lands to proceed with their measurements and construction works. This act of intimidation and alleged legal violations has led the farmers to intensify their protests, demanding an immediate halt to the construction and a withdrawal of the planned electrical route through their fields. Reports suggest that more than 300 local residents from various villages including Raghupaiyanvalasu, Sundaravadivelu Nayakkanvalasu, Melappannayakkanvalasu, Pappavalasu, Mottaikali Valasu, and Mayilrangam have actively participated in filing a formal complaint and are engaged in ongoing protests to draw attention to their concerns.
The issue has caught the attention of local authorities, and the district administration is likely to step in to mediate and address the grievances expressed by the public.
Reports indicate that the land, spanning 14 acres at Raghupaiyanvalasu near Kurukupalayam, was purchased by a private company known for owning several wind farms in Karur district. The electricity generated from these farms is planned to be routed to this new substation and then distributed across a distance of 20 kilometers, involving the establishment of high-tension towers and electrical pathways through several agricultural lands.
This move has sparked significant discontent among the farming community since the onset. The farmers argue that the configuration and placement of high-tension electrical towers and pathways could potentially devalue their lands, disrupt the natural landscape, and adversely affect their agricultural activities. Furthermore, villagers report that company employees had coerced entry into private lands to proceed with their measurements and construction works. This act of intimidation and alleged legal violations has led the farmers to intensify their protests, demanding an immediate halt to the construction and a withdrawal of the planned electrical route through their fields. Reports suggest that more than 300 local residents from various villages including Raghupaiyanvalasu, Sundaravadivelu Nayakkanvalasu, Melappannayakkanvalasu, Pappavalasu, Mottaikali Valasu, and Mayilrangam have actively participated in filing a formal complaint and are engaged in ongoing protests to draw attention to their concerns.
The issue has caught the attention of local authorities, and the district administration is likely to step in to mediate and address the grievances expressed by the public.