BRS leaders secure assurances from Power Grid Corporation on agriculture lands

BRS leaders Vaddiraju Ravichandra and Jaipal Yadav have urged the Power Grid Corporation to safeguard farmers in Kadthal mandal, Ranga Reddy district, from losses due to the construction of the Bidar–Maheshwaram 765 kV transmission line. Farmers expressed fears that the project would damage crops and render farmlands unusable.

Hyderabad: BRS leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra and former MLA Jaipal Yadav on Sunday urged the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) to take precautionary measures to ensure that farmers in Kadthal mandal of Ranga Reddy district would not suffer losses due to the construction of the Bidar–Maheshwaram (Begarkhancha) 765 kV high-tension power transmission line.

Farmers from several villages in Kadthal mandal had approached Yadav and Ravichandra, expressing serious concerns that the high-voltage line would pass over their farm lands causing permanent loss of land and severe damage to crops. They feared the project would render large portions of their fields unusable. Acting swiftly on the issue, BRS working president KT Rama Rao directed the leaders to take up the matter at the highest level.

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On November 3, a delegation led by Ravichandra and Jaipal Yadav met Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi and submitted a representation, appealing for justice and fair treatment for the affected farmers. The Union Minister responded positively and immediately instructed Power Grid officials to ensure no injustice was done to the farmers.

At the behest of the Minister, a high-level Power Grid team comprising Chief General Manager Bipin Behari Rath, Senior Consultant Ashok, DGM Santosh, and others held detailed discussions with Ravichandra, Yadav, Telangana Sarpanches Association state president Lakshmi Narsimha Reddy and the affected farmers on Sunday. The three-hour meeting took place at Ravichandra’s camp office in MLA Colony, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.

The leaders showed the officials the transmission line maps and suggested alternative alignments and measures to minimise impact on farmland.

Farmers voiced their anguish and apprehensions in detail. The officials assured the gathering that the concerns and suggestions raised by Ravichandra, Jaipal Yadav and the farmers, will be taken up with the higher authorities.