RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Vehemently opposed to the construction of a T&T Electricity Commission (T&TEC) tower near their homes, residents of Siparia Old Road, Fyzabad staged a protest on Wednesday as they prepared to file an injunction against the Commission.
They are calling on T&TEC to halt the installation of a new 220-kilovolt electrical circuit in their area and re-route its installation of electrical lines outside of their privately owned lands.
The lines are part of T&TEC's new Union/ Gandhi 220kV circuit which is being run from La Brea to Debe to boost the national electricity grid.
But residents say while they are not opposed to national development, they want T&TEC to reconsider its mapped route which places one of its towers- Tower 47- about 20 to 25 feet away from two residential buildings.
One of the owners Harrilal Rampersad said he was being deprived of the enjoyment of life and property.
Residents of Siparia Old Road, Fyzabad staged a protest on Wednesday as they prepared to file an injunction against the Commission. Image by Rishi Ragoonath
"This Tower 47 is 25 feet from my building and the leg of the tower is 20 feet from the home of Shivan Rampersad. We are very concerned about the erection of this tower so close to our homes," he said.
Saying there could be a lot of health and safety issues, Rampersad explained: " 220 kilovolts emanates a lot of radiation. We don't know what possible cancers we can get."
He said four meetings were held with T&TEC's general manager Kelvin Ramsook and other officials.
"We are not against this country's development. We suggested an alternative route. They sent surveyors and marked out the point. We battling with this for two years now. We requested permission from OSHA and EMA. Now they have gone back on their word and reverted to the original route," Rampersad revealed.
T&TEC continues to install a 220 kilovolt electrical circuit through Fyzabad and Rousillac from TGU, La Brea to Gandhi Village Debe, that will boost T&T's national electricity grid. Image by Rishi Ragoonath
He said T&TEC has not provided documents and when asked if they needed clearance from the EMA, residents were told the Commission was exempted from that.
"We are left bewildered. We want the Minister to get involved. We want them to relocate Tower 47 so it can be at a safe distance from residents' homes and p[roperties," he added.
He said Tower 47 measures 100 metres in height and 15 metres squared.
Meanwhile, another resident Zenora Ramnarace, said T&TEC has not been negotiating in good faith. She said the Commission is infringing on their private lands and has not provided compensation.
"T&TEC has mapped out this area. They gave us the impression that they will change the route. Those red markers are on private land. They are keeping to their plan A to go across the road. That cannot be acceptable. They are infringing on my land. We are totally against it," she said.
A list of questions were sent to T&TEC's General Manager Kelvin Ramsook and manager of corporate communications Annabelle Brasnell who are expected to issue responses. Guardian Media will update this story as more information comes to hand.