Title - Halt of train at Manapparai: residents threaten agitation

Irked over the failure of the railways to provide a halt at Manapparai for the recently-introduced Tiruchi-Tiruvelveli Intercity Express, residents of the town have threatened to launch an agitation.They also demanded steps to expedite the construction of the road overbridge at Manapparai town.A representation submitted on behalf of the Federation of All Political Organisations of the town at the weekly public grievances day chaired by Collector Jayashree Muralidharan here on Monday pointed out that Manapparai was the next major town after Tiruchi in the district from where scores of people commute to Dindigul, Madurai and beyond, everyday.Despite representations, the Railways has failed to take into account the claims of the town residents.The intercity express should halt at Manapparai for at least two minutes, they demanded.The petition also complained over the inordinate delay in completing the road overbridge work at Manapparai town. The bridge has remained incomplete for long, putting the town residents to much hardship, it said.The organisation threatened to launch an agitation in the forms of bandh, fast and rail roko, if their demands were not met.

V.Shanta, Manapparai Municipal chairperson of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, S. Sridhar, district secretary, CPI (M), Indrajit, district secretary, CPI, Cheran, rural district secretary, MDMK, and representatives of Congress, DMDK and BJP were also part of the delegation which presented the petition to the Collector.

A group of residents from Nadu Kondayampettai in Srirangam presented a petition to the authorities demanding removal of encroachments on a branch canal of the Srirangam Nattu Vaical, which runs through Thiruvanaikovil, Kondayampettai and Tagore Street before draining into the Coleroon.

The canal was an important drain of the area, but has come under heavy encroachments, they said.

They demanded action against officials responsible for permitting the construction of buildings on the canal and the removal of the structures.

About 50 women from Thandapani Nagar in Oothathur caused a flutter by turning up at the Collectorate with empty pots demanding steps to ensure regular drinking water supply to their locality.

An open well in the area has gone dry and so have three hand pumps, forcing them to trek for two km to fetch drinking water everyday, they said.