After 14 years, Trichy corporation is all set to expand its boundary by amalgamating 22 village panchayats in four different panchayat unions, mostly on northern and western parts.
While a total of 25 panchayats were considered initially, the municipal administration department passed an order finalising 20 panchayats for a complete merger and two panchayats for partial merger based on the urbanization level.
In 2011, Trichy city’s area expanded from 146sqkm to 167sqkm by adding four panchayats and Thiruverumbur town panchayat. Except for in Panjapur, the local body faced dearth of land parcels to implement new projects. Subsequently, a preliminary study for city expansion was conducted in July 2021.Based on the study, the state govt has finalised 22 village panchayats including partial amalgamation of Navalpattu and Kumbakudi panchayats. Urbanised panchayats including Nachikurichi, Kambarasampettai, Mutharasanallur, Somarasampettai, Gundur, Thalakudi, and Pitchandarkoil are to be completely merged.
“Further, the govt will communicate with us about the number of wards that the city can have. There is a possibility to increase number of wards from 65 to 100. A resolution will be passed in the council soon, and a study will be carried out for ward delimitation,” a senior corporation official said.
Thayanur, Madakudi, Mekkudi, Solamadevi, and Manikandam villages that were considered earlier for the expansion were dropped.
Only a few urbanised village panchayats are keen for the merger with the urban local body. “We await proper roads and streetlights for years, most of us could afford the tax hike,” K Shanmuganathan, secretary of Vasan Valley residents’ welfare association in Nachikurichi and Malliyampathu panchayats said.
Residents of agrarian and far-placed panchayats such as Valadi, Nerunjalakudi, and Adavathur are baffled by the proposal. “Losing MGNREGA benefits will be a big blow for senior citizens. Property and water tax will increase drastically. Landowners will be happy as their property value will go up but not tenants,” G Gunasekaran, a farmer from Nerunjalakudi said.At present, residents of village panchayats pay 220 to 1,000 as property tax and 720 as water charges per year.
Since most of the panchayats have basic infrastructure for supplying drinking water, Trichy corporation will face challenges only in developing new roads and streamlining solid waste management. Most of the panchayats are dumping the waste on roads, as there is a lack of infrastructure to recycle the waste.
