Backwardness haunts CM's hometown

By Our Staff Reporter

THENI, SEPT. 22. Lack of economic development, basic infrastructure and backwardness still haunt Periakulam, home town of the new Chief Minister, Mr. O. Paneerselvam.

Though Periakulam attained Municipality status long ago, poor infrastructure, narrow roads, poor basic amenities have been still haunting the dusty remote town.

Agriculture is the main business of this region. Many ryots have invested heavily on long-term crops such as mango and sapota. Besides this, cotton, tomato and vegetable are cultivated in largescale in this region.

The confidence people had on agriculture was shattered in the last season as most farmers incurred huge losses due to slump in prices of mango and sapota. Cotton too let them down last year. Though Periakulam was the major cotton producing centre, the cotton market was in Theni only.

Lack of industrial development was due to lack of infrastructure and unwillingness of people. Many are not brave enough to invest even in agri-based industries. A few affluent ryots too expressed their unwillingness to start industries suspecting its success.

Though the DMK and the AIADMK had represented this constituency since 1977, no political parties had taken much efforts for its development. While successive Governments had not taken much efforts for the development of Periakulam, people too are reluctant to shift to industries. Many believe that agriculture alone can save them.

The Varahanadhi, flowing across the town has been converted into a sewage canal. While Periakulam Municipality has underground drainage facility, sewage water has been diverted into Varahanadhi. Cleaning of Varahanadhi is another major task to improve the living conditions of the people. To give a facelift to the town, the municipality constructed a bus stand recently.

Development of Periakulam is possible only through formation of link roads with Kodaikanal and Moonar and Madurai.

Developing tourist spots such as the Kumbaikarai falls, the Vaigai dam and the 11-km-long link road between Kodaikanal and Kumbakarai via Adukkam would increase the flow of population. For this, concurrence from the Forest Department is a must.

The Periakulam Town Development Council felt that bringing Kodaikanal under Theni district too would enhance the status of Periakulam.

There was a proposal to lay a road from Dindigul to Cochin via Periakulam, Theni, Bodi and Moonar and another road connecting Dindigul and Sabarimalai via Periakulam. These long term measures may ensure its overall development. Mr. M.S. Paneerselvam, president, Lions Club of Periakulam, said people had been demanding constitution of a district court in Periakulam for its growth.

Starting of fruit processing units or a jam manufacturing unit or cotton processing units would also help, the Periakulam Farmers Association said.

Mr. Panneerselvam as Minister for Revenue, in his thanksgiving speech at Periakulam, promised that he would strive to restore the glory of Periakulam. With massive powers entrusted to him now, people have been pinning hopes on him that he would fulfill his promises and make his constituency industrially and economically sound.

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Section  : Southern States
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