Kumbakonam: People of Kathiramangalam village near Kumbakonam utilised the grama sabha meeting held in connection with the Independence Day celebrations in the village on Tuesday to drive home their demand for sending out the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) from the village. A resolution was adopted at the grama sabha meeting, presided over by Ramesh, assistant block development officer. People reiterated their grievance that ONGC activities have polluted the soil and water in the village and also affected the health of people. All ten oil wells installed by ONGC in the village should be closed down and the oil major should move out of the village, they said at the meeting. They said rainwater harvesting structures should be established in the village.The grama sabha meeting also urged the authorities to inform people about works carried out in the village using MPs and MLAs Local Area Development Fund and village panchayat development fund in every grama sabha meeting. Tuesday being Independence Day, children with the tricolor on their faces enacted a drama urging ONGC to go out of the village.
Annadurai, district collector, participated in the grama sabha at Punnainallur Mariamman koil near Thanjavur. He also took part in the community lunch at the temple.
