Agitation for formation of Ponnampet taluk intensifies

The agitations conducted by the Taluk Rachana Horata Samiti, Nagarike Vedike and various other organisation for the last 55 days have grown stronger.

Horata Samiti working president C S Arun Machaiah said that smaller towns such as Saraguru in Mysuru district and Kaup in Udupi district have been earmarked for taluk status. But, Ponnampet, which is three times larger in size, has not been considered, he said.

"Ponnampet, having a population of 15,000, is the major centre of Southern Kodagu. Ponnampet was established in 1800 by the then Diwan Cheppudira Ponnappa. Earlier, the place was known as 'Ponnappanapete'."

Arun pointed out that 'Koggattunadu' which was a taluk centre in 1956, lost the taluk status when Kodagu state merged with Mysuru state.

"The taluk-level offices which existed then, are operating even to this day. Many government departments such as social welfare, horticulture, agriculture, women and child welfare, backward classes and minority welfare, ITDP, taluk panchayat office, sub treasury and deputy registrar's office are situated in Ponnampet, even though Virajpet is the taluk centre. There are nationalised banks and education institutions. The new civil court complex was also inaugurated in Ponnampet recently. Therefore, making Ponnampet a taluk centre, will benefit people, including those living in border areas," he explained.

The fighters said that the movement for the separate taluk is been conducted since 2009. Four hoblis and 48 villages have been identified for the proposed taluk. Four forest zones including Nagarahole Rajiv Gandhi National Park will come within the limits too.

The villages in the border, like Kutta, Karmadu, Pokola, Badagarakeri and Nagarahole, are 55 km away from Virajpet. If Ponnampet becomes a taluk centre, two hoblis and 46 villages under 16 gram panchayats will be retained by Virajpet and the distance between the above places and Ponnampet taluk will be 35 km, they argued.

P B Poonaccha, Cheppudira Somaiah, Cheppudira Ponnappa, M S Kushalappa, A M Yermu Hazi, K M Ganapathy, Machimada Ravindra and Katimada Jimmi Annaiah are leading the movement for a separate taluk.