Seven ward members, including three women, led by the vice president of the Kodandhur Panchayat in K. Paramathi Panchayat Union of Karur district have offered to resign to register their protest against the permission given by the Panchayat President to construct a poultry farm at Udayampalayam which the villagers felt could pollute the area and pose health hazards.
The grama sabha meeting of the Kodandhur panchayat, here on Saturday, provided the right forum for the public to cry halt the poultry farm establishment while the seven ward members alleged that they were not in a position to prevent the poultry farm and hence were resigning.
Kodandhur Panchayat President Subbarayan, Vice President Kandasamy and ward members Palanisamy, Kuzhandhaisamy, Shanmugam, Valarmathi, Nallamuthu, Arukkani were present. People voiced their consternation and opposition to the panchayat allowing a poultry farm by some private parties from Erode at Udayamapalayam .
They pointed out that already a huge poultry farm was polluting Nadandhai village in the locality and the people were suffering as the poultry poses health hazards.
Vice President Kandasamy and all the ward members alleged that the president acted arbitrarily in according sanction to the poultry farm. They also claimed that they had no role in giving permission to the poultry.
Since they were not able to act in accordance with the public wish, they said that they were resigning. The seven ward members collectively said that they would meet the district collector in person on Monday and submit their resignations to her. The ward members who have offered to resign also register their views and recorded their observation in the minute book of the gram sabha meeting in deference with the wishes of the public.