The installation of over 100 electric poles inside water bodies, irrigation channels and along roads by an upcoming private solar power generation unit without obtaining mandatory permission has caused concern among residents of a few villages at Radhapuram taluk in Tirunelveli distrct.
The villagers are annoyed because any possible collapse of the unauthorised electric poles may pose a serious threat to them, their families, houses, livestock and other properties.
According to them, a private solar power company that is coming up at Mudavankulam near Radhapuram for generating 25 MW electricity is establishing its unit on 108 acres for generating 5 MW power in the first phase. Even as work is under way, the company is installing 120 electric poles for a distance of 12 km to transmit power generated in the unit to a nearby sub-station to be subsequently connected to the grid.
“Barring 20 poles installed on private patta lands, all others have been erected along the road, inside the Public Works Department’s water bodies and irrigation channels and on panchayat union roads and HR and CE lands. But none of the departments has given any permission for the work,” said a villager from Ramakrishnaperi.
E. Bharathiraja, a farmer from Mudavankulam, has submitted a complaint with the Assistant Engineer of Kothaiyar Basin Sub-Division, Vadakkankulam, seeking removal of the electric poles installed in irrigation tanks and water channels.
R. Saravanakumar of Thalavaipuram has submitted a complaint with the Joint Commissioner of HR and CE, Tirunelveli, on September 24, accusing the solar power company of putting up electric poles along the land belonging to Sri Nithyakalyani Amman Temple, Radhapuram.
In his complaint with the Inspector of Police, Radhapuram, on September 22, Junior Engineer of Department of Highways, Radhapuram, L. Murugalingam has prayed for legal action against the solar unit for installing 14 electric poles in the night without permission on land belonging to the Department of Highways.
When the Highways officials found out about the illegal installation of electric poles, they detained a lorry, it is said.
Anand, who supervises the installations for the company, says they have applied for permission and ‘no objection certificates’ from various government departments.
Superintendent of Police Vishwesh Balasubramaniam Shastri said the issue was not brought to his knowledge. “We received a complaint only from the solar company on reported blocking of access to its premises following a land dispute, for which we have registered a case.”
He added that he would check on the complaint given by the Department of Highways about the unlawful installation of electric poles.
When contacted, Collector Anand Mohan said, ”the company had applied for regularisation of electric poles erected inside the water body as per extant rules. At the same time, we have received complaints from the public as well.. Both the application for regularisation and the complaints from the public are under examination.”
Published – September 26, 2026 08:21 pm IST
