Plans to upgrade Kothagudem Municipality into corporation hit roadblock

The leaders of CPI (M), Adivasi JAC, residents of the seven gram panchayats of Sujatha Nagar mandal proposed to be merged into the corporation, oppose State government's move

Kothagudem: The State government’s recent decision to upgrade Kothagudem Municipality into a municipal corporation has run into trouble as there has been opposition to the decision from different sections of society. It might be noted that the government proposed to establish Kothagudem Municipal Corporation by merging Kothagudem and Paloncha Municipalities along with seven other gram panchayats of Sujatha Nagar mandal.

Though the followers of Kothagudem MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao and CPI leaders hailed him for convincing the government to create the municipal corporation, all are not happy. The leaders of CPI (M), Adivasi JAC, residents of Sujatha Nagar mandal and others are opposing the creation of the corporation.

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A few residents of the seven gram panchayats of the mandal also took out a protest rally recently demanding that the government not merge their villages into the corporation. Adivasi JAC State convener V Ramakrishna Dora called for a protest against the decision on January 20, at the Collectorate.

Adivasi JAC leader Arem Prashanth told Telangana Today that elections have not been conducted for the Paloncha Municipality for the past 24 years as a scheduled agency area and fall under the 1/70 Act. The government should come clear on the issue and must respect Adivasi rights and laws, he said.

CPI (M) district secretary Macha Venkateshwarlu stated that it was meaningless to announce the creation of the municipal corporation without addressing the issue of the 1/70 Act, (AP Scheduled Areas Land Transfer Regulation Act 1959-Amendment 1/1970).

He wanted the government to clarify whether the municipality falls under the 1/70 Act or not. It was illogical to merge villages in Sujatha Nagar, a rural area, into the corporation leaving out Chunchupalli and Laxmidevipalli mandals that have urban character, he noted.

The government should hold an all-party meeting to discuss the objections raised by different sections and find suitable solutions. The municipal corporation should be established scientifically considering the opinions of concerned sections, Venkateshwarlu said, adding that otherwise the government decision would be seen as a move to benefit real estate traders.