THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSEB’s brutal actions against the young farmer while the ripe banana bunches are just days away from bearing fruit. Reports indicate that KSEB collectively cut down the banana trees on a plantation owned by a farmer in Puthuppady, Kothamangalam.
According to the farmer, Aneesh, the incident occurred on Friday afternoon. He said that KSEB chopped down over four hundred banana trees without any prior intimation. This act has reportedly resulted in a loss of Rs 4 lakh for him.
Aneesh further explained that despite using the land for cultivation for several years, the banana trees were cut down without informing. He criticized KSEB for not attempting to contact him before destroying such a substantial number of trees. Aneesh added that if he had been informed, he could have explored alternative solutions.
This brutal incident has not only brought tears to Aneesh’s eyes but also to those who witnessed the plantation before and after the banana trees were chopped down.
The bananas that were grown in preparation for the Onam market were the ones destroyed due to KSEB’s actions. As food prices continue to rise, this activity has garnered significant criticism. Regional social activists argue that such incidents contribute to Kerala’s continued reliance on other states for food and other products.
In defense of their actions, KSEB cited the presence of a high-tension power line.
Subsequently, Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty acknowledged the incident and instructed the Director of Transmission to conduct an investigation.
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