Villagers boycott gram sabha meeting demanding relocation of Tasmac outlet

Villagers in Periyakuppam, a village in Tirupattur, refused to attend a gram sabha meeting held to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's birthday. Their protest centered around the demand for a relocation of a Tasmac outlet, which they claim hinders safe travel for students and residents. Periyakuppam, situated around two kilometers from Ambur town, is comprised of multiple hamlets such as Veppalampatti, Sorakalnattam, Erivattam, and Gounder Vattam.

These hamlets fall under the Alangayam panchayat union near Vaniyambadi town. B. Vijayakumar, a resident, expressed concern over the safety of commuters and pedestrians, particularly students, who use the stretch where the outlet is located. The Tasmac outlet has been operating for over a decade on the boundary of Periyakuppam and Vijayapuram villages.

The villagers rely on this road to access towns like Vaniyambadi, Jolarpet, and Tirupattur, with most of their students attending the Government Higher Secondary School in Vallipattu, located around 2.5 kilometers away. Revenue officials and police were present at the village following an alert, but the villagers adamantly stayed away from the meeting.

The outlet is situated on a crucial route that connects 20 surrounding farming villages to major cities like Pondicherry, Kancheepuram, Chennai, Salem, and Dharmapuri. Additionally, the outlet is surrounded by two local temples, a government high school, and a bank. Recent incidents involving inebriated individuals committing violent acts, including attacks and fights, have further fueled the villagers' discontent.

Some villagers have submitted petitions at a grievance meeting chaired by the District Collector, highlighting how the community's hard-earned money is being spent on liquor consumption, posing a threat to students' safety.