Extra tax worry for villagers post merger with municipality

Several key towns in the district shall be on transformation route with the proposed merger of villages with the municipality.

With the merger of Pothireddypally and Chintapally panchayats and a few other colonies, the population of Sangareddy is expected to cross one lakh, thereby making it eligible for the Centre’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) scheme under which a big grant will be sanctioned for various development activities.

So far, Siddipet is the only municipality in the erstwhile Medak district to have gained eligibility for the scheme.

Protests were registered in Zaheerabad limits over the proposed merger of Allipur, Ranzole, Hothi (K), Chinna Hyderabad, Pastapur and Tammidipally. The residents of Pastapur, Hoti (K) and Ranzole have been raising objections, arguing that the merger would lead to them being levied with higher taxes.

“We know that the merger will usher in development and also bring about added taxes. The municipality may not be in a position to extend services with insufficient staff. People are opposing the move as it will be difficult to get permission for construction activity,” said Manikyam, a resident of Pastapur.

The population of Sadashivapet is expected to cross 48,000 with the merger of Siddapur village, which is adjacent to the town.

A new municipality is being formed at Tellapur with Osman Nagar, Kollur, Edulanagupally and Velimala. It will take the population of Tellapur to 24,000.

“We are not totally opposed to the merger of the village with the municipality. Collector Vasam Venkateswarlu visited the town on Tuesday and was unhappy with the prevailing sanitation situation in the town. A huge amount of drain water has stagnated next to our building. Can this municipality extend dependable service to the citizens,” asked Venkatesh, a resident of Pothireddypally.