Koolegoundenpudur residents demand electricity connection, hold protest

COIMBATORE: Residents of Koolegoundenpudur village near Annur in Coimbatore, who have been living on govt land, staged a protest on Monday with their school-going children demanding electricity -- a basic amenity that has been denied to them for more than 50 years.As part of the protest, the villagers refused to send their children to school, highlighting how the lack of electricity severely affected their ward’s education. Residents said students were forced to study under two streetlights, making it difficult for them to concentrate.Around 30 families living in the area do not have access to televisions or other electronic appliances. With no electricity at home, they are forced to charge their mobile phones at their workplaces. "Most of us work as farm labourers and construction workers. Earlier, the govt allotted land 10 km away from our present location, but it is not suitable as it would make it difficult for us to go to work," said a resident.The villagers urged the govt to provide them with a temporary electricity connection until an alternative site is identified. Coimbatore North revenue divisional officer (RDO) of P K Govindan, Annur tahsildar Yamuna and other revenue department officials held talks with the residents.

Following the talks, a revenue department official said that patta could not be issued for the current land, as it is classified as watercourse poramboke land. The Madras high court has ruled against issuing pattas for such land. Without patta, electricity connections could not be provided, they said. "We are in the process of identifying an alternative site that is not too far from the current location. We have also assured the residents that houses will be built for them on the new site," the official said.Based on this assurance, the residents agreed to send their children to school from Tuesday. "We will explore the possibility of providing solar lighting for their existing houses," the official added.