Revenue and police department officials on Monday removed statues of Dr Ambedkar that were erected without obtaining permission at Vandaranthangal and Agaram, near Katpadi.
The residents of Vandaranthangal Colony had erected a cement statue in the locality recently after the village panchayat had granted permission. However, officials said it was a violation of rules and regulations and had directed them to have the statues removed.
After the villagers refused to remove the statue, a team of revenue officials from the Katpadi taluk Office reached the spot and removed it. “The residents had installed a cement statue without obtaining the revenue department’s permission, which is against the rules,” said an official attached to Katpadi taluk office.
Similarly, a cement statue of Dr Ambedkar installed at Agaram near Katpadi market area was also removed. The drive to remove illegally installed cement statues was led by deputy tahsildar of Katpadi taluk Office Selvi.
“Bronze statues can be erected in public places after permission is granted. Permission is given after ensuring that it would not create law and order problems in the future,” said an official.
This happened following the inquiry held by the revenue officials last week at Ambedkar Nagar in Vandaranthangal panchayat, regarding the erection of Dr Ambedkar’s statue without seeking permission.
Meanwhile, both statues were shifted to the taluk office and kept safely.