Polavaram Oustees Seek Panchayat Reorganisation Before Local Polls

Rampachodavaram-based advocate Prakash has submitted a representation to the President of India, seeking directions to the Andhra Pradesh government to reorganise the affected Gram Panchayats and complete the delimitation process before holding elections.
In his representation, he stated that six Gram Panchayats — Kondamodalu, Tunnuru, Manturu, Devipatnam, Pudipalli and Chinaramanayyapeta — in Devipatnam mandal of Polavaram district, and five Gram Panchayats — Koruturu, Tootigunta, Kondrukota, Chegondapalli and Pydipaka — in Polavaram mandal of Eluru district had been affected by the Polavaram project. Their original territorial areas had been submerged, while the displaced population was now living in R&R colonies and other rehabilitation locations.
Continuing with the old panchayat boundaries despite the submergence of the original villages had created serious legal and administrative anomalies, he contended.
Prakash pointed out that the Andhra Pradesh Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Rules, 2011, provide a mechanism for determining village jurisdictions in Scheduled Areas. He said the rehabilitation of displaced communities should be accompanied by a lawful determination of their village, Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat jurisdictions, in accordance with the constitutional protections applicable to Scheduled Areas.
He alleged that the authorities had not de-notified the submerged villages or taken the necessary steps to reorganise the affected Gram Panchayats and modify their boundaries.
According to the representation, nearly 42 habitations across six Gram Panchayats in Devipatnam mandal and 30 habitations across five Gram Panchayats in Polavaram mandal had lost their original geographical identity following submergence. The displaced residents had been relocated to R&R colonies and other rehabilitation sites across the respective districts.
Prakash urged the President to direct the State government to undertake a panchayat-wise assessment, identify the submerged Gram Panchayats and map the corresponding habitations and rehabilitation areas. He sought their reorganisation, reconstitution and territorial delimitation under Section 3 of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, and the determination of Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat jurisdictions under Section 242-B and the PESA Rules, 2011.
He also sought the issuance of statutory notifications for the alteration, merger, bifurcation, reconstitution or cancellation of existing village and panchayat notifications, as required, to ensure that local body elections are conducted on the basis of legally constituted and territorially identifiable Gram Panchayats, subject to the constitutional powers of the State Election Commission.