Coimbatore : Eleven farmers were detained Saturday when they attempted to prevent the officials from Powergrid surveying land for putting up high tension power tower at Karumathampatti, some 20 km from here.

The officials were stopped by some protesting farmers who had earlier climbed atop an electricity tower a few days ago lodging their objection to erecting towers through their land, which they claimed would adversely affect its fertility.

However, despite protests, the officials returned this morning and started surveying the land. A group of irate farmers rushed to the area and started arguing with the officials and police and squatted there to lodge their protest.

Amid tension, police removed 11 agitating farmers and kept them in a marriage hall at nearby Somanur, police said.