Farmers raise objections to project

Mangaluru: Farmers from various parts of Dakshina Kannada district raised dozens of issues at a meeting chaired by deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP here on Tuesday.
The district-level farmers’ meeting, which was held after more than two years, saw farmers raising objections to the proposed Udupi-Kasaragod 400kV electricity line. Farmers said that they will oppose the project strongly as it will be detrimental to agricultural land and trees.
The DC said that the Udupi-Kasaragod Transmission Ltd (UKTL) belongs to the govt. “The project would facilitate the transmission of excessive power generated in the state to power-deficit states like Kerala. We will record the objections of farmers and a meeting in this regard will be convened by the assistant commissioner soon,” he said.
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha secretary Ravikiran Punacha demanded a special package for crop loss in the district. “The district has received 26 days of continuous rainfall causing damages. A special package should be announced offering Rs 50,000 per hectare as compensation,” he said.
Meanwhile, many farmers from Sullia, Belthangady, Puttur, Kadaba, and other taluks demanded that the process about the renewal of gun licences should be simplified. Farmers alleged that the police department has been either delaying or rejecting applications unnecessarily. They also demanded that the gun licence of an elderly person should be transferred to his children after his death.
The DC said necessary steps will be taken to solve the issue through a bulk renewal drive within the framework of the law. “The arms rules of the Union home ministry are being followed in all states across the country. Dakshina Kannada district has a large number of gun licences issued to farmers,” he said.
To a demand raised by farmers, the DC directed the Mescom officials to relax the procedures about the linking of Aadhaar Cards with their consumer numbers.
Demand for monkey park
Farmers demanded the setting up of a monkey park in Nettana village in Sullia to solve the monkey menace. “Troops of monkeys attack coconut, arecanut and other crops in villages causing huge losses to the farmers. A proposal was already prepared, and land was also identified in Nettana village to set up a monkey park. A survey in this regard should be conducted and necessary steps must be taken to set up a monkey park,” a farmer said.
Zilla panchayat CEO Anandh K, deputy conservator of forests Anthony S Mariyappa, additional deputy commissioner Santhosh Kumar G, and joint director of agriculture department H Kempegowda were present on the occasion.