Residents of Palayampatti panchayat under Aruppukottai union on Monday thronged the Collectorate in large numbers to hand over hundreds of petitions opposing the State Government’s proposal to merge part of their panchayat with nearby Aruppukottai Town municipality.
The villagers have been protesting against the proposal claiming that the economically weaker sections under the rural local body would lose their jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme if their area becomes an urban local body.
After the State Government announced that any objection to the merger of the rural areas with the urban local bodies should be made in writing within six weeks, a large number of villagers came to the Collectorate.
The petitions addressed to the Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply, says the residents would lose the benefits of assistance under various Central and State Government schemes as per the Panchayat Raj Act if their area becomes a part of Aruppukottai municipality.
The livelihood issue such as jobs under MGNREGS would also be lost. Besides, property tax, drinking water charges and fee for building plan approval will go up manifold.
The people gathered under the banner of People’s Movement for Palayampatti Panchayat Protection under its coordinator R. Rampandian, ex-serviceman Madasamy, and former members of the panchayat Vasanthi, Padma and Lingam.
Published – February 03, 2025 09:39 pm IST