Farmers oppose power plan following tower collapse

NASHIK: Farmers from Walkhed village in Dindori taluka have decided to oppose construction of power lines passing through their farms after a Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) tower collapsed on Saturday and injured five persons.
The PGCIL was raising the tower for inter-state power transmission. Saturday's accident was the second of its kind after one such tower collapsed at Sarole Khurd village in Niphad taluka a year ago.
"The PGCIL has been laying power lines through the farms and we are opposed to it. The district administration says it is helpless and can't do anything. We agreed to the plan. But after the tower collapsed on Saturday, we are scared at it is a major security issue for us," said Santosh Purkar, one of the farmers spearheading the agitation."We do not want compensation from anybody. All we want is safety and security of the people working in the farms. Two towers collapsing within 50km is not a good sign. So far, there was no wire on the tower," said Shivaji Baste, another farmer.
The farmers said they would start an indefinite agitation at the spot of the tower from Monday, seeking end to such constructions through their farms. "We have been fighting against drawing of these lines through our farms for the past three to four years. We wanted the lines to be redrawn through areas without habitation. The company said it would be costly and went ahead with its plans. We want the lines to be shifted now," said Raghunath Patil, another farmer.
A PGCIL official said, "We have spoken to our seniors and they will take a decision. But re-drawing of lines will not be possible," an officer said.