A group of villagers from Odaipatti in Dindiyur panchayat submitted a petition to the district administration alleging that an individual had encroached a land meant for common use.
S. Manickam, one of the petitioners, said that there was about 1.2 acres of land in the village meant for common use. “In the last few years, we have given numerous petitions to revenue officials to use the space for building a panchayat office, library or community hall. Recently, a former councillor took possession of the land and fenced it,” he said.
He said that they were not allowed to enter the land and threatened by the encroachers.
“We heard that the encroachers are going to obtain ‘patta’ documents for the land and have asked the Village Administrative Officier for the same. Despite complaining about this to the VAO and revenue officials there, no action has been taken,” Mr. Manickam said.
In the petition signed by over 100 villagers, they requested the district administration to intervene and build a common use facility on the land to ensure that it was not encroached upon in the future.
