Local Villagers Oppose High-Voltage Transmission Towers in Karbi Area
Community Resistance to Electricity Project
Jorabat, Jan 4: Residents from 13 villages predominantly inhabited by the Karbi community in the Nartap region, located within the Sonapur Revenue Circle, have voiced strong objections against the Electricity Department's initiative to erect high-voltage transmission towers across their lands. They have raised alarms about potential threats to their land, livelihoods, public safety, and significant cultural sites.
This initiative entails the installation of 400/220/132/33 KV high-voltage transmission lines traversing a densely populated agricultural area, which is part of a proposed corridor extending from Chamata to Byrnihat. Villagers claim that the proposed route would encroach upon limited agricultural fields, residential zones, and sacred Karbi religious sites, including traditional Dehal Puja locations.
Many residents, who have lived on this land for generations without receiving formal land titles despite numerous applications, argue that the project would drastically reduce already limited arable land and pose health and safety hazards to the community. Protesters have also turned down compensation offers, emphasizing that financial relief cannot substitute for land security and cultural heritage.
The Amri Karbi Students’ Union, alongside the affected villagers, recently presented a memorandum to the Co-District Commissioner of Dimoria, urging that the transmission line be redirected to a non-populated alternative route.
After submitting the memorandum, Ramen Kathar, the general secretary of the Amri Karbi Students’ Union, stated, “We are not against development, but we cannot accept progress that comes at the expense of our indigenous land, lives, and culture. The suggested route is arbitrary and unjust. Should the authorities disregard our valid concerns and move forward without proper consultation, we will have no choice but to escalate our peaceful protests.”
The protesters have called on the administration to pause the current alignment and engage in discussions with the affected communities, warning that proceeding unilaterally could lead to widespread unrest in the region.