Will not go against ryots’ interest, says P Thangamani

CHENNAI: Assuring that the state government would not go against the interest of farmers, Electricity Minister P. Thangamani lashed out at the opposition parties for misleading the farmers over the erection of high-tension power distribution towers on farmlands. The government, he said, has come out with a GO after holding consultation with the farmers.

The Minister claimed that the State government had already discussed the issue of establishing high-tension power distribution towers on agriculture lands with the farmers, and took appropriate measures, especially coming out with a government order. “But certain parties were needlessly indulging in agitation, misleading the farmers,” Mr. Thangamani said.

The Minister who earlier inspected the ongoing renovation at the Pasur Bridge in Erode district on Monday said the government would not implement any scheme affecting the farmers. The government had provided adequate compensation to the ryots who were affected by the scheme to set up HT power distribution towers.

Recently, the CPI’s Tamil Nadu unit had called upon the State government to hold talks with farmers opposing the setting up of electricity transmission towers on farmlands. “Farmers have been strongly opposing proposals to erect High Tension (HT) power distribution towers over farmlands in regions including western Tamil Nadu,” CPI State Secretary R. Mutharasan had said. Farmers have been demanding that such electricity infrastructure be installed in spaces on non-agricultural lands, he added.

“Farmers getting affected is not related to politics and the government, by brushing aside their demands is pushing them towards protest demonstrations and both the government and the (Electricity) Minister should realise this,” he said. Construing protest demonstrations as law and order issue is “myopic and would not help cordial resolution of the matter,” Mr. Mutharasan said.