Team Herald
PARRA: Farmers opposing the high-voltage power lines through fields at Parra have lodged a complaint of trespass and mischief against the officials of electricity department, at Mapusa Police Station.
Farmers allege that this is the third time the department forcibly tried to erect electric poles in the fields to lay 33 KVA line from the Thivim sub-station to the Nagoa sub-station. However, it was halted by the villagers.
Mapusa PI Tushar Lotlikar confirmed that he received a complaint on Tuesday night alleging that electric poles are being installed in the fields. “The complaint was against the electricity officers. This matter is still under inquiry,” he said.
Parra Panch Chandu Harmalkar said that no permission has been obtained from the panchayat to lay the 33 KVA line. “They will be destroying the fields of the farmers if they install these poles,” he pointed out.
Goa Foundation director and a Parra resident Claude Alvares said that since the electricity department was aware that the government would collapse any moment, it is trying to get this line put up. “If the government is supporting agriculture they should not do these things as these fields are being cultivated,” he said.
“They do not have the permission as per the Electricity Act. The farmers and locals have given a letter stating that they are not granting NOC; after that a letter has been issued asking for survey numbers as they plan to use the Land Acquisition Act. We wrote back to proceed in the matter. The apprehension of the farmers is that their fields will become unsafe once a high tension line passes through them. If there is any further harassment we are bound to move the High Court,” Alvares said.
Roland da Cunha, a Parra local, told Herald that the electricity department claims that this is a temporary solution and once the underground cabling is done one set of parallel line poles would be removed.
“Instead of underground cabling, they are taking us five years back by pulling the lines over head. This work is definitely not benefiting the people of Parra and is being done for Calangute and Candolim. They attempted to do the work by sending in a large force of police personnel due which a large number of people gathered. Last time, the high tension line was pulled through these fields without informing the people,” Cunha said.
Another local, Jack Fernandes said, “They are entering our fields and bring police force to handle us as if we are trespassing into their property.”
“They are digging holes in the fields and hence the tractor will have problem while ploughing and also it is unsafe for farmers as this is a high tension line,” Fernandes said.
