Replacing poles - driving over fields: will the damaged crops be compensated?
Kęstutis Valentinavičius, a farmer in the village of Mockūnai, Biržai district, is outraged by the disrespect of contractors of the Energy Distribution Operator (ESO): „They came up with the idea of replacing the electricity poles before the harvest, and they were driving through the fields. Who will pay for the damage?
Having been in a desperate situation
Farmer K. Valentinavičius said he was willing to share his bitter experience just to prevent a similar situation from happening again and to prevent other cereal growers from suffering.
„It happened in a field near the village of Mockūnai. They were replacing poles about a couple of weeks ago. When I came to the fields to see if the crop was ripe and it was time to thresh, it was only then that I saw what they had done here... I didn't expect it, it was a shock – part of the field was run over, the crops were piled on the ground. I contacted ESO, but the answer was: „We can't help“. They have uprooted the crops and caused damage and there is nothing they can do to help?“- the farmer was surprised.
He didn't expect the perpetrators to compensate him... „I didn't take them by the hand, so I can hardly help them. ESO's ruse is that it is not them who have acted in this uncivil manner, but the contractors they employ. Who is going to trace which contractors they are and where can I turn...", lamented K. Valentinavičius, who is in a desperate situation.
They should agree, but...
Tadas Micikevičius, chairman of the Biržai District Farmers' Union, said that farmers usually turn to the municipality in such cases. A special commission set up by municipal decree assesses the damage, which will have to be compensated by the culprit who drove over the fields. In this case, a contractor hired by ESO replaced the poles in the farmer's field. As far as I have heard, those who have applied have received payments," added Mr Micikevičius.
Even the road traffic rules state that no motor vehicles are allowed to drive through the fields, he said.
„The contractor should be obliged to coordinate works such as replacing poles with farmers, but... They don't coordinate or listen. And that is the worst. They are not interested in farmers or in people in general — look at how ESO cuts trees — totally incompatible with the logic of pruning and the well-being of plantations. They cut off the tops, half a tree... Like a hurricane in a settlement, it seems to burst when they show up. You only see after the fact," commented T. Micikevičius.
Where to turn?
„It used to be the case that the farmer contacted ESO, who contacted us to assess the damage. Then a commission formed by us calculated the damage and the company compensated the farmer according to our calculations," said S. Balčiūnienė.
She said that no farmer has yet applied for compensation for damaged crops this year.
Promises to compensate
After journalists began to take an interest in the farmer's problems, K. Valentinavičius received a call from the representatives of a company that had been working in the fields and asked how they could compensate him for his losses.
We also asked Rasa Juodkienė, ESO's public relations officer, to comment on the situation. She replied that she would soon clarify the situation and provide a reply.
K. Valentinavičius was informed that ESO representatives had contacted him themselves, admitting that the contractor had not carried out the work as it should have been done.
After this mediation, the contractors offered the farmer crushed stone in exchange for the damage caused. The farmer was happy with this exchange. "Thank you „Biržiečių žodžiui“ — it was you who broke the ice and the damage will be compensated," thanked the farmer K. Valentinavičius.
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