Residents of Thethupatti under Pannaipatti panchayat in Dindigul West taluk on Monday petitioned the Collector, seeking continuation of ‘kudimaramathu’ works in the village tank.
They complained that the works had been stopped midway. “When we ask the contractors the reason for stopping the work, they cite delay in release of funds. Farmers in our village are entirely dependent on the tank water for irrigation and, hence, the Collector should intervene and ensure proper and timely release of funds,” said V.K.R. Shanmugam, a farmer.
They urged the government to finish ‘kudimaramathu’ work before the monsoon.
A couple of villagers from Karisalpatti submitted a petition to the Collector seeking removal of private encroachment from the public pathway leading to panchayat burial ground. “The way to burial ground is along the bund of a tank, which is now under encroachment by private parties. The government should remove it and restore the pathway,” said a villager.
In another petition to the Collector, T. Raj, belonging to Pulayan Scheduled Tribe from Kattakadu village, Perumparai, demanded that his family be given compensation for the death of his wife, Eswari, in July, allegedly due to harassment by a caste Hindu family.
“My wife was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Police registered a case and found one Meenakshi, who used to work with us in Kattakadu estate, guilty. Meenakshi has been arrested and remanded. However, she should not be let out on bail and my family should be given compensation as per the clause in SC/ST POA ACt,” he said.