Mangaluru: The Society for Forest, Environment and Climate Change (SFECC) has warned of legal battles in several cases of non-implementation of govt orders, policies, and guidelines in connection with the implementation of the 400KVA power line from Padubidri to Kasaragod-Phase 2.SFECC secretary Benedict Fernandes told reporters here on Saturday that under the proposed project, towers are being erected without environmental clearance and biodiversity clearance. He said Udupi Kasaragode Transmission Ltd (UKTL) plans to lay a 115km 400KVA transmission line from Padubidri to Kasaragod, and has only received in-principle approval (Phase 1) from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change.“It is informed that the project proponent is doing illegal work without obtaining Stage II clearance, environment clearance, and biodiversity clearance,” he said, alleging that 35 towers were set up for the project illegally in violation of Stage I clearance. “No work can be commenced after obtaining only Stage I clearance on the Parivesh portal for projects requiring forest clearance. Stage I clearance is an in-principle approval and signifies that the proposal has been accepted in principle. Final approval (Stage II clearance) is required before any work can begin on the ground,” he said.Fernandes alleged destruction of nearly 1.78 lakh trees besides health hazards due to the project. SFECC demands that all illegal structures, including towers raised for the project, should be razed. He said the project proponent should lay the transmission lines underground, a technology which is being used throughout the world. Restore properties of innocent farmers who were lured to sacrifice their land, he said.400KVA Power Line Action Committee member Chandrahas Shetty said if the project proponent succeeds in obtaining Stage II clearance, the latter has to identify the farmers whose land will be affected while laying the transmission lines and pay compensation as per supplementary guidelines issued by the ministry of power on March 21, 2025. Accordingly, the compensation amount to be fixed is the market value of the land, and this has to be decided by the five-member committee involving the DC as its chairman, he said, and demanded that the state govt issue guidelines on the same.
