Chennai: The Union power ministry’s permission granted to Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) for erecting dedicated overhead transmission lines at 55 locations between Tiruppur and Karur districts has been set aside by Madras high court.
The transmission lines were intended to pool power generated at TPREL’s 198 MW wind power generating station in Karur.
Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy passed the order while disposing of a batch of pleas moved by landowners challenging the project for failing to conduct a public hearing to receive objections as mandated under the Electricity Act.
The court directed that TPREL is entitled to commence the project approval process afresh from the stage of issuing publications in prominent English and Tamil newspapers within two weeks, obtain and consider the objections, and finalise the optimal route alignment to obtain the licence.
Regarding the 39 towers already set up, the court directed the authorities to provide protection to the towers until the exercise is completed.
According to the petitioners, the overhead line stretches 17.75 km from Senapathipalayam village in Tiruppur district to the Karur power station.
TPREL issued a public notice in little-known local newspapers and submitted to the central electricity authority that no objections were received from anybody against the project. Based on the submission, the authority granted approval for the licence on June 6, 2024.
“The minimum expected of these private companies is to publish a notice in newspapers widely circulated in the area and consider the representations regarding the optimal route alignment. This is not a formality but an important and substantial step that is prescribed,” the court said.
It is a solemn public duty concerned with sustainable development, avoiding potential hazards, and forming a route that will be optimal, the judge added.