Farmers of Kalloorani demand immediate removal of poles erected in middle of supply channel of Neeravikulam by a solar power plant.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Farmers of Kalloorani have opposed to a solar power plant erecting high-tension power line posts inside the supply channel of Neeravikulam tank near Aruppukottai.A section of farmers from the village, led by M. Sermaraja, submitted a petition to Virudhunagar Collector N.O. Sukhaputra demanding immediate removal of all the seven posts and provisions for a transformer erected on the bed of the channel.Mr. Sermaraja said that Kalloorani being a rain-fed region, the farmers were dependent on rainwater that flows through the wild stream to the Neeravikulam. This tank is the main source of water from three villages, including Muthuramalingapuram and Narathampatti.The petition said that the farmers were also using the supply channel as the cart path to reach their farmlands.“Even tractors go through the channel to reach the farmlands when cultivation is done in the region as no farmer would allow vehicles to move through their farmland,” he added.All of a sudden, some workers started to dig pits on the bed of the channel and have erected seven posts.“They have left some 30 poles and other accessories along the channel with the intention to erect them also,” he said.After the farmers lodged complaints with the Revenue Divisional Officer, Tahsildar, Block Development Officer, the work of further erection of poles was stopped a few days back.“The iron poles are likely to hold high-tension power line. During rainy season, if there is power leakage through those iron posts, it would pose serious threat to the lives of men and cattles.The farmers claimed that as per the revenue records, the place where the poles were erected is channel.The farmers sought action against those who encroached upon supply channel, destroyed it and also blocked the free flow of water during rainy season. Published - July 06, 2026 08:49 pm IST
