Families who settled in the Urallagall in Sagar Taluk after they were displaced due to the construction of the Linganamakki dam, fought without basic equipment. | Photo Credit: File Photos
The Electricity Supply Company (Mescom) mangaluru has proposed to engage 54 households of the Ulalagall Village, located in the middle of Sagar Taluk forests in Shivamogg. The proposal is a flash of hope for villagers waiting for electricity for more than six decades.
Families who settled in the Urallagall in Sagar Taluk after they were displaced due to the construction of the Linganamakki dam, fought without basic equipment. | Photo Credit: File Photos
For years, they have faced a hard opposition to the forest ward to lay the electricity in the Kargal Range forest region. After repeated demonstrations and protest march in 2022, Mescom officials made a proposal to supply energy by providing six transformers and laying 26.8 km underground cable and 17.25 km routes with low voltage (LT line).
Mescom officials submitted a proposal for forest check-in on 28 March 2025. For a project, with estimated CRORE costs of 6.4 GBP, the agency requires 1.13 hectares of forests and non-porestland 0.63 ha.
Punic P., assistant of the executive engineer Mescom in the Sagar division, said Hindu that the proposal was under the control of forest officials.
When the Hindu contacted Prishna Krishna Patagar, a representative of the forest conservator (wilderness) in Shivamogg, he said the proposal was technically verified by the wing of information communication technology (ICT). “The team will verify the technical data and maps submitted by the proposer of the project. Later it will be considered a permit,” he added.
Families who settled in the Urallagall in Sagar Taluk after they were displaced due to the construction of the Linganamakki dam, fought without basic equipment. | Photo Credit: File Photos
Moved
Families that settled in the village after they were displaced due to the construction of the Linganamakki dam, fought without basic equipment. Villagers without access to a proper road and school send their children to residential schools at a young age. Only parents will remain in the village and take care of their plantations.
Whenever the school restores on holiday, parents walk about 10 km in the forest area to drop their children at the nearest bus stop. “For several years, no officer representing the state government had difficulty visiting our village. Forget higher officers in Shivamogg, representatives of Panchayat were not visiting the village because there is no way,” said Nagara S., inhabitants of Salakod, village in the village.
Ualagall is situated after Cheekanahalli, Salakod, Dasanamane, Hebbanaker, Munduval and Melur.
The inhabitants said their ancestors moved to the village at the age of 60, when they were displaced by the Sharathi Hydro ElectricT project. They felt that the country was fertile for agricultural activities and settled there. They grew unpeeed and later moved to plantation crops, including Areca. For years, the Anganwadi, School or Health Center has not had the center. Even during the elections, they must vote at least 10 km.
The nearest Anganwadi center is in Kanura, about 10 km from the village. After a series of protests and appeal, higher officers of the district administration of Shivamogg assured the inhabitants of a visit to the village. “But officers did not visit us. They met in the gram of Panchayat and returned,” Mr. Nagaraj said.
Published – 20 July 2025 20:11 is
