Erode, Tamil Nadu, 10/02/2025:
Gobichettipalayam MLA K.A. Sengottaiyan (centre) submitting a petition to the Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara (left) at the Collectorate here on Monday.
Photo: Govarthan M / The Hindu
| Photo Credit: GOVARTHAN M
Gobichettipalayam MLA and former AIADMK Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan submitted a petition to Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara opposing the move to merge various village panchayats with municipalities at the Collectorate on Monday.
The petition stated that the State government had proposed the merger of several village panchayats: Pariyur, P. Vellalapalayam, Kullampalayam, and Modachur with Gobichettipalayam Municipality; Akkaraikodiveri Panchayat with Periyakodiveri Town Panchayat; and Nochikuttai and Nallur Panchayats with Punjai Puliyampatti Municipality.
The petition highlighted that residents in these villages come from economically weaker backgrounds and rely on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for their livelihood. It argued that the merger would disrupt their employment opportunities and impose additional tax burdens, severely affecting them.
Furthermore, the petition emphasized that agriculture is the primary occupation in these areas, with no industries present. It urged the government to drop the merger proposal and allow the village panchayats to function as earlier.
Former MP V. Sathyabama and party functionaries were present.
Published – February 10, 2025 06:02 pm IST