HC orders status quo on erecting 400 KV transmission line

The Madras High Court today ordered that status quo be maintained till July 14, 2015 on erecting a Rs 2,300 crore 400 KV transmission line through the lands of 12 agriculturists in two villages in Kancheepuram district.
Justice M Sathyanarayanan, before whom the petitions filed by the 12 agriculturalists came up, stated that the order of status quo was only in respect of their lands in Vembedu and Kayar villages
The matter relates to laying of a Super High Tension Transmission Line from Pugalur to Ottiampakkam passing through these two hamlets.
The petitioners alleged that the project was not meant for government-run TANGEDCO but to service transmission to certain private companies in Sholinganallur near Chennai.

They also said they were not made aware of laying of the line and that the massive structures to be built for the purpose would damage and obstruct underground water streams.
The petitioners contended it would affect the primary source of water for cultivation in the region, resulting in destruction of cultivation. If the project went through, about 834 agricultural families in these villages would be affected.
They submitted that they had raised objections but these were rejected by the private firm.
They said any attempt to erect the transmission towers without obtaining permission from land owners was invalid and prayed for a direction to forebear the authorities concerned from laying the lines through their villages.