Even as the State government mulls upgrade of major gram panchayats with a 15,000-plus population into urban civic bodies, uncertainty prevails over the fate of Bhadrachalam. Though the temple town has an estimated population of over 50,000, its prospects of bagging municipality status appears bleak, thanks to legal hurdles, said sources.
Bhadrachalam was first declared as a major gram panchayat in 1965. It was later upgraded into a township — that was over a decade ago. However, it was soon reverted to its earlier status following court petitions, challenging the move, sources added. Any fresh move to convert Bhadrachalam into a municipality is bound to face legal hurdles in view of strong opposition from various Adivasi organisations to such a proposal.
Any change in the status of gram panchayats in the Fifth Schedule areas requires certain Constitutional amendments that have to be passed by both Houses of Parliament, said S. Veeraiah, founder president, Gondwana Samkshema Parishad.
Upgrade of a major gram panchayat in the tribal heartland into an urban civic body will only serve the interests of certain influential persons among the non-tribal population and lead to dilution of tribal laws such as the Land Transfer Regulation Act, argued Mr. Veeraiah.
