Idukki : In the incident at Kothamangalam’s Varapetti, where KSEB staff were forced fell banana plants owing to disruption it caused to the 220 KV line running above and potential peril, the government paid Rs 3.5 lakh in compensation to the grower Thomas. The sum was handed by MLA Antony John on Farmers Day today.
While receiving the amount, Thomas expressed thanks to the Chief Minister, the government and the MLA, adding that he was wholly satisfied by the sum.
Around 400 bananas were felled at the farm cultivated by Thomas, which came as a big blow to him considering they were nearly harvestable. The Ministers for Energy and the Agriculture discussed the situation and a decision was made to compensate him.
Present at the handover event were : Panchayat President PK Chandrasekaran Nair, Tehsildar Rachel K Varghese, FIT Chairman R Anil Kumar, Panchayat Vice President Bindu Shashi, Panchayat members Divya Sali, C. Sreekala, Priya Santosh, Former Panchayat President Nirmala Mohanan, MPI Chairman EK Sivan, CPI-M Local Secretary MP Varghese, KSEB Transmission Director Saji Paulus, Thodupuzha Transmission Deputy Chief Engineer Anil Kumar G, Kothamangalam Transmission Executive Engineer Rukhya. , Sub Division Assistant Executive Engineer Johnson Manuel, Agriculture Officer EM Manoj and others.
