Mayor Rao, in an open letter to the state principal secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development on Wednesday, urged the government to reconsider and withdraw the merger proposal. (Image: X: @Mayor_KNR)
Karimnagar: Strong opposition has emerged against the proposed merger of five village panchayats and Kothapalli municipality into the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation (KMC). Public representatives, including mayor Y. Sunil Rao, and villagers voiced their concerns.
Mayor Rao, in an open letter to the state principal secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development on Wednesday, urged the government to reconsider and withdraw the merger proposal. The initiative, spearheaded by transport and BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar, aims to upgrade KMC to the Greater Karimnagar Municipal Corporation (GKMC).
The state government had instructed officials to submit proposals for merging six villages and a municipality within a 10-km radius of KMC.
The state government had instructed officials to submit proposals for merging six villages and a municipality within a 10-km radius of KMC.
Following a detailed survey, municipal officials recommended merging Bommakal, Durshed, Gopalpur, Chinthakunta, Malkapur, Laxmipur, and Kothapalli municipality. However, villagers in Bommakal, Durshed, and Gopalpur staged protests, alleging that the merger would harm their agriculture-dependent livelihoods. Concerns were raised over potential land acquisition by corporate entities, increased taxes, and loss of employment for farm labourers and MGNREGA workers.
Mayor Rao also highlighted unfulfilled promises from a previous merger in 2018, where villages like Seetharampur and Rekurthi were integrated but lacked basic infrastructure improvements. Issues such as inadequate water supply, poor roads, and insufficient drainage persist, he noted.
Mayor Rao also highlighted unfulfilled promises from a previous merger in 2018, where villages like Seetharampur and Rekurthi were integrated but lacked basic infrastructure improvements. Issues such as inadequate water supply, poor roads, and insufficient drainage persist, he noted.
Adding to the resistance, the Kothapalli municipality and several village panchayats have passed resolutions opposing the merger. Mayor Rao emphasised that the government must focus on addressing developmental gaps in previously merged areas before proceeding with new proposals.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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