Residents stage road blockade against merger of villages with Thoothukudi Corporation

Residents of Periyanayagapuram Church Street protest against integration with Thoothukudi Municipal Corporation, citing impact on livelihood and subsidies.

Around 100 residents of Periyanayagapuram Church Street from Korampallam village and Ayyanadaippu village in Thoothukudi district staged a road blockade near Thoothukudi district collectorate on Monday demanding an action to prevent integration of these villages with Thoothukudi Municipal Corporation.

Since the list released by Tamil Nadu government on January 1, proposing the reorganisation of local bodies, including the selection of seven village panchayats including Sillanatham, Mapillaurani, Ayyanadaippu, Korampallam, Maravanmadam, Mullakadu and Kumragiri from Thoothukudi district to merge with the Thoothukudi corporation by expanding its limits, people of the these villages are continuously protesting against the merger.

The villagers of Ayyanadaippu and Korampallam also submitted their petition to the Thoothukudi District Collector K. Elambahavath, who headed the weekly grievance redressal meeting.

In their petition, the villagers stated that most residents belong to marginalised communities and depend on daily wages, agricultural labor and the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for their livelihood. They added that this merger would lead to important agricultural subsidies, free house pattas, Pradaan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and “Kalaignar Kanavu Illam” schemes. Additionally, they also highlighted the effect of increased property tax and water tax due to the merger. The villagers urged the authorities to retain their villages as panchayats instead of merging them with THoothukudi Municipal Corporation.

As a strong demonstration of their opposition, the villagers staged a road blockade near the collectorate to immediately withdraw the idea of merging these villages. The police officials conducted negotiations with villagers to withdraw the protest. With no agreement reached the police arrested around 95 protesters including 80 women and temporarily detained them in a private marriage hall.

The series of protests and petitions regarding the merger of village panchayat also highlights the growing discontent of the villagers over the municipal expansion. The protesters urged the administration to reconsider the merger and prioritise the needs of the people.