Chhatrapur: Villagers from Kanamana gram panchayat presented a demand letter to the Ganjam Collector V Keerthi Vasan opposing the inclusion of some villages in the newly formed Chhatrapur municipality.
Chhatrapur municipality includes erstwhile NAC wards of Chhatrapur in addition to the gram panchayats of the adjoining Podapadar, Chikalkhandi, Agasti Nuagan, and some villages under Kanamana gram panchayat.
Villagers appreciated the government’s decision of conversion into municipality, though they oppose the inclusion of four to five villages under Kanamana gram panchayat. Villages including Takiria Bramhapur, Kanamana, Matikhalo, Chasakanamana, and IRE Colony are planned to be mapped under Chhatrapur municipality, according to sources.
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However, they fear losing out on various state government schemes and benefits that are exclusively designed for gram panchayats. Additionally, 90 per cent of the landscape in these areas is used for Kevda flower farming and cattle breeding, which happen to be their sole source of income. If these villages are mapped in the municipality, they fear they may lose their livelihood in the future.
PNN
