The ongoing protests against the drawing of a 400-kV high tension power line from Mysuru to Kerala gained momentum here on Saturday with farmers from Kodagu staging a demonstration.
Hundreds of farmers from Kodagu, including women, participated in the sit-in protest in front of the Cauvery Park on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway.
The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) had organised the protest in which K.S. Puttannaiah, Melkote MLA, also participated.
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The protesters raised slogans against the State government for drawing the power line through verdant forests and coffee estates in several districts of Karnataka and Kerala States.
The fragile ecology in the Cauvery catchment areas and dense forests in Karnataka and Kerala would face a severe threat owing the drawing of the power line. Instead of drawing the new line, the authorities concerned could utilise the existing power transmission lines to reduce damage to forests and ecological system in the region, they suggested.
Alleging that the State government had given its nod for taking up survey work without consulting local leaders, the protestors urged the government to immediately suspend the ongoing works related to the power line.
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The agitators warned of intensifying the protests if the authorities concerned continued with the survey work.
KRRS leaders K.S. Nanjunde Gowda, Shambunahalli Suresh, Ramakrishnaiah, Haniyambadi Nagaraju, Konasale Narasaraju, B.C. Nanjappa, Manu Somaiah and others were present. Later, along with Mr. Puttannaiah, the protesters met Housing Minister M.H. Ambareesh near the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum.