Associations' / Institutions' News

Press Release

Mangaluru, Feb 17 : Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh (R) in association with the Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh (R), Udupi; The Kasaragod 400 KV and Paladka-Kadandale 400/220 KV Power Transmission Line Opposition Protest Committees Federation, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada; ICYM, Mangalore Diocese; Raitha Sangha-Hasiru Sene (Farmers Association - Green Brigade); Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (R) Karnataka Pradesh (Indian Farmers Association (R) Karnataka Region); Parisara Sangama-Jeeva Sankula Para Vedike (Environment Confluence - Platform for Living Beings); Udupi Zilla Krushikara Sangha (Udupi District Farmers Association) and Like-minded pro-farmer organizations and Institutions of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod districts will be holding a Mass Protest March and Rally Udupi-Kasaragod 400 KV power line project on February 20, 2025.

The Udupi-Kasaragod 400 KV power line project (UKTL), which has been handled by the contractor company UKTL-Sterlite Power for the past five years, is being executed in Udupi, D.K. (Dakshina Kannada), and Kasaragod districts. The company is carrying out the work under the guise of power line construction without taking into consideration the clear policies, regulations, and legal guidelines of both the central and state governments' Ministry of Power. In a similar manner, they are attempting to carry out work for the proposed Paladka-Kadandale 400/220KV KPTCL power transmission line project (KPTCL) by ignoring all the clear legal standards and resorting to bullying and coercion tactics.

For the proposed projects, no public consultation meetings have been held, no legal notices or information documents have been provided to the landowners along the proposed project route, and the landowners have not been taken into confidence. Despite intense opposition from landowners, the public, and the anti-project committees, the company continues its work through coercion and inhumane behavior.

This project route will destroy our productive agricultural land, flourishing crops, and valuable forest resources containing large trees of various rare species. They strongly oppose this route and demand that alternative routes such as sea routes, roads, public highways, or rail tracks, or even underground routes, be considered to implement the project. Their rightful demand, protests, and legal battle against this project have been ongoing for the past five years, and they will not make any compromises on this issue.

In this regard, they have repeatedly submitted detailed information about the severe problems that this project will cause to all the legislators representing both districts, Members of Parliament, District Commissioners, honorable President, respected Prime Minister, honorable Governors, Chief Minister, both state and central energy ministers, opposition party leaders, and have requested them to address their clear opposition. However, no effective response has been received so far, and once again, due to the indifference of the central and state governments, district administration, and elected representatives, the officers and staff of UKTL-Sterlite and the contractors of the Paladka-Kadandale (KPTCL) project are continuing to create new problems for the people every day.

The disastrous issues arising from this anti-nature project are as follows:

1. The proposed project route spanning 115 kilometers across 27 villages from Elloor in Udupi district to Poonacha in D.K. and extending to Kasaragod district will directly affect 1,150 acres of productive agricultural land. Along both sides of the line, there will be no opportunity to build houses, sheds, or any other structures. In total, more than 3,450 acres of land, including 2,300 acres of agricultural land, will be destroyed by this project.

2. Around 2.65 lakh areca trees, including their roots, will be cut down.
3. More than 1 lakh coconut trees will be lost.
4. Approximately 4.5 lakh pepper vines will be destroyed.
5. Around 1.5 lakh rubber trees will be uprooted.

6. About 25,000 jackfruit trees, 28,000 mango trees, over 2.5 lakh large trees of various species, and thousands of medicinal forest resources will be lost.
7. Millions of banana, plantain, sapota, and other horticultural crops will be wiped out.

8. Significantly, 328 residential houses, 26 temples, 16 mosques, 14 schools, and 13 Christian churches and prayer halls will be affected.
9. Additionally, millions of animals, birds, aquatic life, and biodiversity that are an inseparable part of this natural system will be destroyed.

10. The high-voltage electrical currents running through the project will create radiation and electric waves that could lead to health issues such as cancer, infertility, and other fatal diseases for people and livestock.

For these reasons, they demand that the proposed route for this environmentally destructive project be changed and implemented using alternative routes that would cause minimal issues. Therefore, they have decided to organize a “Mass Protest March and Rally” in the central part of Mangalore. On February 20, 2025, Thursday, at 9:30 AM, they will start the “Hakkotaya Jatha” from Balmatta in Mangalore and March to the Mini Vidhan Sabha. A grand protest meeting will be held in front of the Mini Vidhan Sabha at 11:00 AM, where more than 15,000 affected people, farmers, environmental activists, and concerned citizens will gather to raise awareness and alert the government, elected representatives, and the district administration about the issues at hand.

Their key demands before the central and state governments:

1. Prevent the destruction of well-developed agricultural lands and flourishing crops. If the project is unavoidable, it should be implemented only via alternative routes.
2. Repeal the British-era Telegraph Act of 1885 entirely and only apply the 2003 Electricity Act to power transmission projects.
3. Strictly adhere to the clear guidelines provided by the central and state governments.
4. Revoke the single-handed authority granted to the contractor company UKTL-Sterlite for the Udupi-Kasaragod 400 KV power transmission project and make the government a responsible key stakeholder in the project.

It is our collective responsibility to preserve and pass on our land, water, nature, environment, and abundant agricultural resources to future generations. They humbly request all to understand their righteous, apolitical, secular, and inclusive struggle and spread the message through media platforms, joining them in their protest march and public meeting to make their struggle a success.

The details were revealed in a Press Meet held on February 17, 2025 at Woodlands Hotel, Mangaluru.
Alwyn D'Souza, Paneer - President, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh (R); Paul Rolphi D'Costa - Former Central President, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh (R); Roy Castelino - Public Relations Officer, Mangalore Diocese; Stanly Lobo - Immediate Past President, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh (R); Santosh Cornelio - Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh (R); Alwyn Prashanth Monteiro - General Secretary, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh (R); Victor Kadandale - Member, Protest Committee; Chandrahasa Shetty and Krishna Prasad Thantry were present at the Press Conference.