TIRUNELVELI: The public sentiment over bifurcation of Tirunelveli district into Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts can be satisfied only by reorganizing three taluks-Alangulam, Ambasamudram and Sankarankoil-, or so it seems going by differing views expressed.
Though majority of the elected representatives wanted the existing Tirunelveli district to have the six assembly segments-Nanguneri, Radhapuram Tirunelveli, Palayamkottai, Alangulam and Ambasamudram that constitute Tirunelveli Lok Sabha constituency, people's opinion expressed at the public hearing chaired by Dr K Satya Gopal, Additional chief secretary and commissioner of revenue administration in Tirunelveli and Tenkasi on Saturday differed.
Participants from the eastern parts of Alangulam taluk wanted that they wanted to remain with Tirunelveli district, while people from the western part of the taluk found it comfortable for them to go with the to-be-created Tenkasi district.
Similarly, the participants from Pappakudi union in the western part of the Ambasamudram taluk wanted to join with Tirunelveli district against their counterparts in Kadayam panahcyat union.
In the Vikiramasingapuram municipality near Papanasam, the eastern part of the taluk aspired to go with the new district as they are just 17 Km away from Tenkasi that has the greater chance of becoming the headquarters for the new district to be carved out of Tirunelveli.
People representing Sankarankoil at the public hearing, though, wanted their taluk to remain with Tirunelveli district, but agreed to go with the new district if Sankarankoil is made its headquarters.
People from Melaneelithanallur panchayat union in Sankarankoil taluk and the Kuruvikulam panchayat union in Thiruvengadam taluk however, were unanimous and strong in their opinion to remain with Tirunelveli district.
Holding the public hearing at Tirunelveli and Teenkasi the same day, the Commissioner of Revenue administration said that he would processall the petitions given in writing to him on the bifurcation of Tirunelveli district and would submit his report as early as possible to the state government that is to take the final decision.
“Meanwhile, the special officer, G K Arun Sundar Thayalan, appointed for Tenkasi will prepare the staff requirements for the district to be created and submit it to the government,” added Dr K Satya Gopal, who will conduct the next public hearing on Monday at Kancheepuram, which is to be bifurcated to create recently announced Chenglepet district.
