Arunthathiyar Ilaignar Peravai has threatened to demolish a wall constructed by some upper-class people across the Arunthathiyar Colony at Nagapalayam in Kodumudi Town Panchayat on July 2.
In a complaint submitted to the Collector and SP on Friday, residents of the colony, led by peravai president N R Vadivel, said that over 300 SC families were residing at the colony in Ward No.1 of the panchayat. Many among them had housesite pattas given by the government some years ago.
As per the complaint, a Mariamman Temple and Government High School were located on the southern side of the colony, whereas, there was a main road between the colony and the temple. “The colony people and students have been using a common path along the temple to go to school for the past many years. However, nearly one year ago, the upper class people who are maintaining the temple constructed a wall along the main road blocking the approach road from the colony to the temple,” they noted in the complaint.
The wall, which was four feet high, had glass pieces embedded on it to prevent anyone from scaling it. They had also planted coconut saplings along the wall on the main road, forcing the SCs to use a half-furlong circuitous route to reach the school.
They presumed that the wall was constructed to prevent the SCs from visiting the temple. “Though we complained to the town panchayat officials one year ago, no action was taken on the issue,” they said and pleaded to the officials to remove the wall immediately.
Officials Speak
When contacted, town panchayat executive officer Nadavedalingam said that he had not received any written complaint from anyone.
He said that according to local residents, the wall had been there for over 100 years. A portion of it was damaged which was reconstructed a year ago. Also, the wall was in a public place along the road belonging to the panchayat, he noted.
As a complaint was lodged with the SP, he was invited to discuss the issue. “The office will study the issue after collecting revenue records on the wall and take suitable action,” he said.