[UPDATED] Fyzabad residents want T&TEC towers relocated

Residents of Siparia Old Road in Fyzabad are calling on the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) to stop the construction of two transmission towers too close to their homes.

They cited health and safety concerns, saying 220 kilovolts (kV) emits a lot of radiation that can be cancerous.

Towers 46 and 47 are across the street from each other.

Spokesman Harrilal Rampersad said, "A lot of people have comorbidities. I have psoriasis, and my son and nephew are psoriasis patients also. My niece-in-law suffers from lupus. Seeing this monstrosity in our faces every day has a terrible effect on us.

"We have identified another site that they can use. The alternative is east of here.

"We are not against this country's development. Tower 47 is about 100 feet in height, and we object to it vociferously."

The overhead transmission lines connect Union Estate 220/66 kV to the Gandhi Village 220kV/ 132 kV substation.

Rampersad estimated that the tower is about 20 feet from two houses, reiterating that it should be moved further away.

"We have tried to reason with them many times. We have had at least four meetings with T&TEC. We are fed up. We do not have the funds to relocate. Tower 47 affects at least four residential buildings," Rampersad added. "This is private property. We are the fourth-generation owners, the Rampersads. They have to compensate us, but no mention so far has been made about compensation."

He said residents are still determining how much land would be taken away to facilitate the construction.

In a media release on Wednesday, T&TEC said the installation of the 22 kilometre-long new Union/ Gandhi 220kV circuit is proceeding in compliance with the law and provisions of the T&TEC Act.

"T&TEC has had several consultations with the affected residents and reconsidered the route for one segment crossing Siparia Old Road. Based on the engineering assessments, some adjustments were made to the physical design and no further alterations are feasible at this point," the company said.

"The proposed path for the entire new Union/ Gandhi 220kV circuit mirrors the existing circuit from Union to Gandhi. Transmission towers will not be erected on occupied residential lands, but overhead lines may pass over several open parcels of land."

T&TEC said the compulsory acquisition process began in July, with the publication of the requisite legal notice.

It reiterated that the circuit would serve as a secondary backup to take electricity from the country's largest electricity-generating company, Trinidad Generation Unlimited (TGU) in La Brea, to T&TEC's transmission substation in Gandhi Village. From Gandhi Village, it will be distributed across Trinidad.

TGU provides about 50 per cent of Trinidad's electricity needs during daylight and 60 per cent at night.

The statement said the circuit is a critical segment of the electricity grid and will benefit T&TEC and the country.

It listed one benefit as the additional security for the reliable transmission of electricity.

"In the event of an emergency – damage or failure on the existing lines – the new circuit will continue to supply electricity to the country, avoiding widespread outages."

Another is that the circuit would reduce the likelihood of nationwide outages.

"On completion, the commission will be able to transfer power to the new circuit to conduct outstanding maintenance work on the existing circuit, which is over ten years old and, in its current configuration cannot be taken out of service for any significant period of time to allow preventative maintenance."

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Residents of Siparia Old Road in Fyzabad are calling on the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) to stop the construction of two transmission towers too close to their homes.

They cited health and safety concerns, saying 220 kilovolts (kV) emits a lot of radiation that can be cancerous.

Towers 46 and 47 are across the street from each other.

Spokesman Harrilal Rampersad said, "A lot of people have comorbidities. I have psoriasis, and my son and nephew are psoriasis patients also. My niece-in-law suffers from lupus. Seeing this monstrosity in our faces every day has a terrible effect on us.

"We have identified another site that they can use. The alternative is east of here.

"We are not against this country's development. Tower 47 is about 100 feet in height, and we object to it vociferously."

The overhead transmission lines connect Union Estate 220/66 kV to the Gandhi Village 220kV/ 132 kV substation.

Rampersad estimated that the tower is about 20 feet from two houses, reiterating that it should be moved further away.

"We have tried to reason with them many times. We have had at least four meetings with T&TEC. We are fed up. We do not have the funds to relocate. Tower 47 affects at least four residential buildings," Rampersad added. "This is private property. We are the fourth-generation owners, the Rampersads. They have to compensate us, but no mention so far has been made about compensation."

He said residents are still determining how much land would be taken away to facilitate the construction.

Newsday called T&TEC officials for comment, but up to Wednesday afternoon, no response was forthcoming.