Farmers scale HT towers to stop installation work

Seven farmers including four women went up a 150 feet high transmission tower at Molagoundanpalayam village near Chennimalai and shouted slogans against erecting transmission towers through cultivable lands. On receiving information, the police and fire fighters rushed to the spot and persuaded the protesting farmers to come down.

Even as talks were underway, another group of farmers scaled up another tower located a few metres away. They all refused to come down until the government stops erecting towers in their cultivable land. After several hours of persuasion, the protesting farmers agreed to come down.

The farmers have been protesting for the second consecutive day and on Thursday police arrested around 77 farmers including 15 women, when they attempted to prevent workers from erecting towers in a village in Chennimalai area. The farmers lay on their farms to prevent earth movers from excavating earth for installing towers.

Continuing with their agitation on Friday, more than 50 farmers led by Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam vice president Munusamy and CPI district committee member S Ponnusamy marched towards a farm land, where digging works were underway for erecting towers. However, the police stopped them from proceeding towards the spot.

The farmers complained that they weren’t given prior intimation about the transmission tower installation works to be carried out in their neighbourhood.

The protesting farmers expressed anguish that the power lines traverse through thousands of acres of fertile farmlands, which may, in turn, lead to their loss of livelihood. They also fear that their lands will lose the market value if the power lines crisscross through their lands. Farmers have been demanding to lay the power cables underground similar like in Kerala.