Power corp towers rattle Mann

Emaan Singh Mann, son of SAD (Amritsar) chief Simranjeet Singh Mann, on Wednesday accused Power Grid Corporation of forcibly setting up transmission towers on his agricultural land in Talanian village in Fatehgarh Sahib.

Addressing mediapersons, Mann claimed that no compensation has been paid to him and many other farmers. "I will meet all such farmers and organise a protest on Thursday," he said.

Mann said once the tower comes up, transmission wires would span over his seven-acre field and its market value would fall. "The collector rate of my land is Rs 42.28 lakh per acre while the market value is Rs 60 lakh to 1.25 crore," claimed Mann.

He alleged the power corporation had flatly refused to compensate him. "The corporation is using force to make me accept their compensation of Rs 2 to Rs 5 lakh per acre. After I refused their offers, a police team was sent to install a tower on my land," alleged Mann.

Advocate Rajan Lakhanpal, who has filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking relief for Mann, said the power grid corporation was using the provision of Indian Telegraph Act to its advantage. "The Act, however, has provisions for proper compensation to farmers on whose land such towers are set up," said Lakhanpal. Power Grid Coporation officials could not be reached despite repeated attempts.