Merger of 30 panchayats planned in Tirupati

Tirupati: Recently the Municipal officials have sent proposals to the State Municipal Administration department for merging 30 Panchayats surrounding the pilgrim city in the existing Tirupati Municipal Corporation.

This is the third time that officials sent proposals to government for merging of panchayats. Already in 2008 and in 2013, the MCT officials had sent proposals to merge adjacent panchayats in the corporation.

The then TDP MLAs Galla Aruna (Chandragiri) and Bojjala Gopala Krishna Reddy (Srikalahasti) did not accept for merging of the panchayats which are in their constituencies in MCT. The then Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also kept this proposal under pending.

Now, the officials are trying to merge panchayats for Tirupati city development. The City was expanded up to 16 km length only. Interference of political leaders remains as main hurdle for city expansion. Many panchayats in Srikalahasti and Chandragiri constituencies are located adjacent to Tirupati.

Presently, officials have proposed 14 panchayats in Renigunta mandal coming under Srikalahasti Assembly segment and 15 panchayats from Chandragiri segment and one panchayat from Tirupati Urban mandal for merging.

Officials wait for clearance by YSRCP MLAs B Madhusudhan Reddy (Srikalahasti) and Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy (Chandragiri) for the merger of panchayats under their constituencies in MCT.