Haveri: Farmers stage protest over unscientific increase in height of electric pole under a project. The farmers gathered around the Taluk’s Railway Gate Number 211 on the Airani line. They blocked the road next to Vadarayanahalli and demanded that the railways should increase the height of the unscientific electric pole project from 15 feet to 25 feet on Thursday October 27.
Farmers then submitted a memorandum to Divisional Manager South Western Mysore and EXEN Construction Davanagere through Hariveera Singh, Junior Engineer, Railway Electricals, Davanagere Division.
Farmer Leader Ravindragowda Patil, who led the protest, he said that in this part of the Tungabhadra River region, farmers depend on agriculture and grow sugarcane and paddy in large quantities. This unscientific electrical poles and height gauge being installed by the Railways while transporting the grown goods to sugar factories and markets in large lorries is hampering the farmers causing a lot of financial loss and wastage of time. He demanded that the height of these electrical poles, which are being constructed by the Railways, be increased from 15 feet to 25 feet.
All the plans prepared by the technical staff of the Railways sitting within four walls are unscientific. The head of the technical wing of the Railways has often been responsible for the inconvenience caused to the public by the implementation of the project and the financial loss to the public’s tax money, Central and State Government coffers by cancelling the project due to excessive public opposition. They demanded that such officers be suspended immediately.
Since this is a Central Government project, the new Deputy Commissioner Raghunandan Murthy and MP Shivakumar Udasi should personally inspect the site and take necessary action. Otherwise, thousands of farmers from this region will block the highway near Hebbagal Makanur cross in North Karnataka next week. He warned of a Rail Roko agitation near 211. They also demanded that a flyover should be constructed at the gate.
Railway Electricals in Davanagere Division Junior Engineer Hariveera Singh, who arrived at the protest site, accepted the request and withdrew the protest after assuring that their demand would be brought to the notice of higher authorities.
The protesters were led by District President Eranna Halageri and comprised hundreds of farmers.
