Tamil Nadu - Erode   

Residents block road demanding restoration of graveyard

PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN

Protest: Residents of villages in Lakkapuram town panchayat blocked roads leading to Karur and Vellakoil on Monday demanding restoration of the traditional graveyard. —

ERODE: Residents of villages in Lakkapuram Town Panchayat blocked roads on Monday morning demanding restoration of the traditional graveyard.

Hundreds of men and women who squatted on the road at Solar – where the road forks into two, one leading to Karur and another to Vellakoil – alleged that the town panchayat president’s husband and vice president were engaged in efforts to grab the land, which is classified poromboke.

In the land that was opposite the newly built Regional Transport Office, the duo had downed trees worth around Rs. 30,000, razed the cement platform and the shed used for burning bodies, they added.

Seeking restoration of the graveyard, the villagers said the land had served as the traditional graveyard for the 2,500 families in the eight villages.

They pointed out that in 2003 the then State Government provided Rs. 15,000 in order to upgrade the graveyard. The villagers sought action to be taken against those who cut the trees and also restoration of rights to use the land.

Cost of lands in the area near the graveyard has seen a sharp increase in the recent past.

It is very close to the Karur Road and has a good potential for quick development.

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