MADURAI: Several villagers from different panchayats in parts of Tirunelveli district protested against the move to merge them with the corporation at the annual Gandhi Jayanthi Gram Sabha meeting.

The Municipal Administration Department proposed the merger of several rural and urban local bodies to expand municipal corporations in various districts.

In Tirunelveli, 12 village panchayats, including Thalaiyuthu, Reddiarpatti and Keelanatham, were proposed to be incorporated with the Municipal Corporation, which stands as the fourth largest corporation in the state. Citing reasons like the possible suspension of rural development schemes if merged with the corporation, the villagers expressed their concerns about the proposed merger.

During the meeting at Ramayanpatti, Mariappan, councillor of ward no. 4, raised his voice against any merger and spoke out in vehement protest that Ramayanpatti should continue to function under the existing rules and regulations of the Panchayat Act. At one point, he shouted and rolled on the floor in protest against the move.

At Itteri panchayat, several villagers were clad in black, registering their protest against the merger proposal and black flags were put up in most of the houses in the village. Several villagers feared that MNREGA, the livelihood security of rural households, could be suspended if Itteri was incorporated.