KOKRAJHAR, May 1 � The Federation of Indigenous and Tribal People for Public Resistance to High Voltage Transmission Lines and for Safeguarding Human Life, Environment, Social-Economic and Land Rights staged a mass protest rally at Titaguri here on Thursday in protest against the alleged arbitrary activities of the two power companies involved in the construction and erection of two high-power transmission lines through the BTC area without the prior consent of the owners of land and other immovable properties and without paying adequate compensation for this.
A large number of protesters carrying posters and banners joined the rally. SK Bwiswmuthiary, ex-MP, Lok Sabha, and adviser of the federation, addressed the rally.
Later, talking to media persons, Bwiswmuthiary alleged that the Power Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) had been trespassing into the land and properties of the indigenous and tribal people of the BTC area to construct the 800-KV HV DC biopolar under the PGCIL from Biswanath Chariali in Sonitpur to Agra in UP without the prior consent of the owners of the land and properties and without paying adequate compensation to the affected families.
He also alleged that the PGCIL had violated the clear-cut guidelines mentioned in the manual on transmission lines published by the Central Board of Irrigation and Power. He also said that the forum would file a writ petition in the Gauhati High Court soon in this connection.
Bwiswmuthiary also criticised the role of the BTC administration on the issue of NoC to the PGCIL �which is an anti-people stand and very unfortunate.�