DMK tells state to drop HT line project

Stalin moved a calling attention motion in the Assembly on the issue of erection of HT towers in farm lands, in 13 districts of the state and the ongoing farmers protest against the project. 

Speaking on the motion, Stalin said, “Power Grid Corporation and Tangedco without the permission of farmers are trying to erect HT towers on the farm lands and if the project is allowed two lakh small farmers having land of less than two acres would be affected adversely.”

He also said that in the 13 districts, more than 200 meetings were held between government officials and farmers but so far, no consensus was reached on the project. In the meantime, farmers who came for protest were arrested at midnight, in Chennai, said Stalin. He further said that Tangedco should consider underground cabling in all the 13 districts as in suburban areas of Chennai. The department has already planned for laying 400 kw cable for 110 km. The underground cabling help in reducing 10 percentage of electricity loss every year and can save Rs 42,000 crore every year, said Stalin.

Quoting the examples of Kerala and Chhattisgarh, where high powered cables were laid underground, Stalin said that Tangedco should also consider it here. 

U Thaniyarasu, Kangeyam MLA, too opposed the HT project and said that the electric poles were greatly damaged in Cyclone Gaja and if there were underground cables there would be no damages. It is time to lay underground cables in western districts and to prevent a major disaster in the future, he said.

However, Electricity Minister Thangamani, said that across the world there is no technology available to lay high powered cable for long distances. “The cable running from Chhattisgarh is 800-kilowatt cable and there is no technology to carry the high powered cable for such a long distance. Even in Chennai, the department is planning to lay 400 kw cables for just 41 km,” said Thangamani.

He further said that even in Kerala, the underground cabling is done for just 29 km. By laying HT towers, Tamil Nadu will get an additional 4,000 MW power directly from Chhattisgarh and at the time of growing investments Tamil Nadu needs abundant power, said the Minister.