Farmers in Tenkamijaru village, Moodubidire, held a protest on Sunday, against Sterlite Company for damaging agricultural land during the Udupi-Kasaragod 440 kV power line project.
The company proceeded without issuing prior notices or offering compensation, leading to widespread anger among villagers. Supported by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), farmers gathered on the land of affected farmer Bhaskar Shetty to voice their concerns. Shanti Prasad, former BKS district president, highlighted the ongoing distress faced by Moodubidire farmers due to projects like highways and power lines.
He noted that the power line project impacts nine villages in the taluk, affecting farmers including Bhaskar Shetty, Sanjeev Gowda, Rajesh Bhandari, Mijaruguttu Praveen Rai, John Rebello, and Jacintha. Prasad criticized the absence of notices or compensation for landowners and urged the government to reconsider its anti-farmer policies. He warned that failure to act would lead to intensified protests involving thousands of farmers. Bhaskar Shetty claimed that police are using coercive tactics, including threats, to force farmers to sign documents relinquishing their land.
He accused authorities of forcibly seizing agricultural plots to benefit the project. The protest was attended by former Tenkamijaru Gram Panchayat president Balakrishna Devadiga, member Vidyananda Mijaru, Dota Suresh Shetty, Vasanth Bhat, Iruvailu Doddaguttu Dinesh Shetty, John Rebello, Jacintha, and other local residents. The demonstration underscores the growing frustration among Tenkamijaru’s farming community, who are demanding fair treatment and compensation. The issue highlights the conflict between infrastructure development and the livelihoods of farmers in Karnataka’s coastal region.
