Karnataka High Court directs DGP to protect power projects near Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The High Court Karnataka directed the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and the Director-General & Inspector General of

Police (DG&IGP) to provide the necessary protection to the Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCI) to execute a power transmission line project at Yelahanka.

A vacation bench of Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar issued the direction on Thursday while disposing a petition filed by PGCI for providing necessary assistant/protection for completion of the project as per the direction issued by the HC in December 2013.

PGCI has been executing the work on Loop-In and Loop-Out (LILO) of 400 KV S/C Nelamangala-Hoody transmission line and LILO 400 KV S/C Somanahalli-Hoody transmission line at Yelahanaka since 2014. Commissioning of the transmission system is expected to vastly improve power supply to Bengaluru, particularly the northern parts which are witnessing industrial growth.

Some land-owners started obstructing work seeking more compensation. When the Deputy Commissioner (Bengaluru Urban) failed to resolve the issue, PGCI moved the HC, which in 2013 directed land-owners to approach the civil court.

It had directed the DC and the jurisdictional superintendent of police to provide protection to the corporation for laying the transmission line. PGCI has already deposited Rs. 9 crore with the civil court for disbursement as compensation.