Affected villagers around Girivalam path request Tiruvannamalai Corporation to drop merger of villages
Residents said that despite a gradual increase in local taxes on par with core areas within the Corporation, affected villages still lack civic amenities
An estimated 18 villages surrounding the Girivalam path near Arunachaleswarar temple have implored the Tiruvannamalai Corporation to halt the merger of villages with the civic body. The residents allege that the merger has led to a rise in property, water, and other basic facility taxes. Additionally, they claim that their access to work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has been restricted due to the merger.
R. Vasuki, a local resident, explained that many farmers in the affected villages also rely on MGNREGA schemes for supplementary income. The merger has reportedly halted such farm work under the scheme. While the affected villages have observed a proportional increase in local taxes on par with core areas within the Corporation, they are still lacking essential amenities such as improved roads, piped water supply, solid waste management, underground drainage, and streetlights.
Some of the villages affected by the proposed merger include Adi Annamalai, Endal, Nochimalai, Devanandal, Navalanpalayam, Chinnakangiyanur, Vegaikaal, Adaiyur, Savalpoondi, and Athiyandal. On Tuesday, representatives from these villages met with Corporation Commissioner K. Balasubramanian to discuss the possibility of rescinding the merger decision.
The residents also requested employment opportunities for women akin to the MGNREGA scheme within the Corporation limits. Despite their proximity to the temple town, these villages primarily depend on agriculture and related activities, with most residents being farmers and traders or employed under the MGNREGA scheme for tasks like digging ponds and water channels.
Corporation officials stated that around 20 villages in the vicinity were merged with the civic body to enhance the Corporation's infrastructure and secure additional funds from international banks for various civic projects. Currently, the municipality's population stands at approximately 1.46 lakh individuals across 39 wards.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
