TRICHY: Residents and political representatives of seven villages proposed to be merged with Trichy corporation passed resolutions against the plan at the grama sabha meetings conducted in view of Republic Day on Sunday.
The municipal administration department already passed a govt order approving the expansion of Trichy corporation by increasing the existing 65 wards to 100 wards. The order had selected 22 village panchayats to be added to the corporation, including Navalpattu and Kumbakudi panchayats that were to be partially added.
Stating that the amalgamation of panchayats with the city will be detrimental to agriculture and allied activities including MGNREGA scheme, villagers have been protesting against the plan.
The resolutions opposing the merger were passed at Adavathur, Punganur, Kumara Vayalur, Nerunjalakudi, Appadurai, Valadi and K Kallikudi villages. “Villagers have threatened to surrender their Aadhaar cards and ration cards if the panchayat was added to the city despite their opposition,” said a DMK functionary from Nerunjalakudi on the condition of anonymity.
Nerunjalakudi village is located closer to the Lalgudi municipality than to Trichy city.
Earlier, villagers asked block development officers (BDO panchayats) to take part in the grama sabha meetings instead of panchayat secretaries and deputy BDOs to record their opposition against the expansion plan.
Trichy district police termed 50 out of 393 grama sabha meetings as sensitive events.
