The second consultative meeting held at Karamadai witnessed heated arguments and disagreements between DMK and BJP party members.
Coimbatore: Karamadai is one of the four Panchayats named for upgrading to Municipality status in Coimbatore district. At the second consultative meeting regarding this, DMK functionaries were also present on the dais during the meeting, along with Government officials and local officials. The DMK South Union Secretary Surendran and Karamadai Perur Corporation Secretary Venkatesh were seated at the stage. This irked the BJP members. The Karamadai Central Union BJP president Vigneswaran stated that only the respective Government officials should be seated on stage. 'DMK members do not get the right to sit on the dais just because they are the ruling party,' he added.
There was a brief commotion between the BJP and the DMK members during the meeting. Government officials had to intervene for a truce between both parties and later the DMK cadres got off the stage.
The Karamadai area is 19,827 sq. km and has a population of 43,500 people. The famous Aranganadhar Swamy temple is located in Karamadai. People of the area are mostly farmers and labourers in industries, and there are about 10,000 houses in the locality. The second consultative meeting was held today by the district administration to gain opinions on the upgradation of the Panchayat into Municipality.
The Assistant Director of Town Panchayats, Dwarknath Singh, MLA A K Selvaraj, Mettupalayam Municipal Commissioner Vinod and Karamadai Union President Manimegalai Mahendran took the lead at the consultative meeting. Suresh Kumar, Executive Officer, Karamadai Town Panchayat delivered the welcome speech, with the public participating in the meeting. They presented their long-due demands to the authorities.
Panchayat Head, Gnansekaran, Sikkirampalayam stated, 'Merge the developed areas like Kannarpalayam, Thimbampalayam, Thottipalayam, Cheran Nagar and Matampalayam. The Village Panchayats in the area now receive 55 litres of water. This might increase to 110 litres if the villages convert into municipalities.'
Ex-Panchayat Head of Marudham, Rangaraj said, 'Opinions of people of respective villages should be collected before finalizing any decision. However, authorities have failed to do so. The authorities should first make it clear to the public and panchayats which are thewards are to be merged to make Karamadai a municipality and to make it clear for the locals.'
Thekkampatti Panchayat Officer, Nithya also stated that The livelihood of 100 day wage workers will be affected if the village is merged for municipality upgrade. The administration needs to look into the decision once more.
Vinoth Kumar of Sikkadasampalayam opined, 'Sikkadasampalayam is situated between Karamadai Town Panchayat and Mettupalayam Municipality, ward 12 Cheran Nagar. Basic amenities have not been provided due to a lack of funds. Construction of sewage canals, drinking water facilities and various other issues have not been dealt with because there are two big institutions on either side of Sikkadasampalayam. Hence, while discussing about Karamadai being upgraded to a municipality, an emergency meeting with ward members was held on behalf of Sikkadasampalayam Panchayat Council in which all ward members have agreed to merge Cheran Nagar area with Karamadai Municipality.'
The tiff between BJP and DMK members delayed the meeting owing to the commotion that took place.
There was a brief commotion between the BJP and the DMK members during the meeting. Government officials had to intervene for a truce between both parties and later the DMK cadres got off the stage.
The Karamadai area is 19,827 sq. km and has a population of 43,500 people. The famous Aranganadhar Swamy temple is located in Karamadai. People of the area are mostly farmers and labourers in industries, and there are about 10,000 houses in the locality. The second consultative meeting was held today by the district administration to gain opinions on the upgradation of the Panchayat into Municipality.
The Assistant Director of Town Panchayats, Dwarknath Singh, MLA A K Selvaraj, Mettupalayam Municipal Commissioner Vinod and Karamadai Union President Manimegalai Mahendran took the lead at the consultative meeting. Suresh Kumar, Executive Officer, Karamadai Town Panchayat delivered the welcome speech, with the public participating in the meeting. They presented their long-due demands to the authorities.
Panchayat Head, Gnansekaran, Sikkirampalayam stated, 'Merge the developed areas like Kannarpalayam, Thimbampalayam, Thottipalayam, Cheran Nagar and Matampalayam. The Village Panchayats in the area now receive 55 litres of water. This might increase to 110 litres if the villages convert into municipalities.'
Ex-Panchayat Head of Marudham, Rangaraj said, 'Opinions of people of respective villages should be collected before finalizing any decision. However, authorities have failed to do so. The authorities should first make it clear to the public and panchayats which are thewards are to be merged to make Karamadai a municipality and to make it clear for the locals.'
Thekkampatti Panchayat Officer, Nithya also stated that The livelihood of 100 day wage workers will be affected if the village is merged for municipality upgrade. The administration needs to look into the decision once more.
Vinoth Kumar of Sikkadasampalayam opined, 'Sikkadasampalayam is situated between Karamadai Town Panchayat and Mettupalayam Municipality, ward 12 Cheran Nagar. Basic amenities have not been provided due to a lack of funds. Construction of sewage canals, drinking water facilities and various other issues have not been dealt with because there are two big institutions on either side of Sikkadasampalayam. Hence, while discussing about Karamadai being upgraded to a municipality, an emergency meeting with ward members was held on behalf of Sikkadasampalayam Panchayat Council in which all ward members have agreed to merge Cheran Nagar area with Karamadai Municipality.'
The tiff between BJP and DMK members delayed the meeting owing to the commotion that took place.