Published On : Tue, May 7th, 2013
Latest News | By Nagpur Today Nagpur News

Project of erecting power towers puts Parseoni farmers, people on the edge

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Nagpur News: If a private company is given the responsibility of erecting power towers and putting power lines on these towers in many areas doesn’t mean the company should violate rules and regulations in the towering way. Similar situation has been noticed and the work of putting lines has put the farmers, on whose lands the work is being carried out by the private company, into a great difficulty even though the issue is pending with District Administration’s Revenue Department also the matter being sub-judice.

The project of erecting towers and putting high tension power lines under Eastern Power Grid is going on a massive proportion. The complaints of farmers with concerned authorities said that the private company, Maharashtra Eastern Transmission Company Private Limited, Ganesh Colony, Pratap Nagar, is carrying out the project for erecting electricity towers and power lines in Parshioni Taluka for763 KVCKT 1 and CKT 2 for supply of electricity on warfront level. However, according to rules and regulations, an NOC from the project-affected farmers, local Gram Panchayat office and the Revenue Department is must for the company before starting the work of the project. Despite opposition for the project by some farmers, the company is going ahead with the project thus violating the rules and regulations.

The project-affected farmers, who have borne the losses, have urged for stopping the work on the project by citing valid reasons like No Objection Certificate (NOC) on the part of the Maharashtra Eastern Transmission Company Private Limited from local Gram Panchyat. The farmers have sent  proposals in this regard to the Office of District Collector, Nagpur Zilla Parishad and Sub-Divisional Revenue Office in Ramtek.

The farmers have handed over a complaint to District Collector Saurabh Rao demanding severe action against Power Grid officials and employees for erecting towers on the farmers’ ancestral property and also demanded compensation for the loss of projected-hit farmers. The Collector’s office is also discussing the matter by way of meetings. However, despite the matter is pending with the Collector, the private company has not stalled the project work. Now, the project-affected farmers are forced to ponder over to whom they should approach for stopping the work and proper compensation. The local farmers and common people are also in a great dilemma as far as acquisition of their lands is concerned and the Collector office has maintained a radio silence over the issue.

The affected farmers and the common people are suspecting, may be true, the connivance of the company and the district administration to neglect the issue of farmers and people. They suspect hand in glove. There are also chances of a disaster as the company is erecting towers in Parshioni and the distance between the towers and the town is just 100 meters and the people in town have got panicked over the fact. Keeping this in mind, they have appealed the local MLA and other people’s representatives to look into the matter and resolve the issue amicably.

The Maharashtra Eastern Transmission Company Private Limited officials and workers, despite knowing the matter pending with Collector’s office, are threatening the project-affected farmers of dire consequences if they put hurdles in their works. One Adv Vijay Shegaonkar has lodged a complaint with Parshioni Police Station. Police Inspector Vivek Jivane  of the Police Station is investigating the matter.