Politicians of all hues oppose block abolition in Malkangiri

KORAPUT: Cutting across party line, politicians have opposed the state government's decision of abolishing Kudumulugumma block in Malkangiri district, a day after members of four panchayats tendered their resignations in protest against the government decision.
"We welcome the government decision of creating Chitrakonda block but it is not fair to completely abolish Kudumulugumma block.The block office at Kudumulugumma is functioning for the past five decades and we oppose its abolition," said Congress legislator of Chitrakonda Mamta Madhi.
Recently, the state government in the process of rejigging the boundaries of panchayats and blocks in Malkangiri had decided to abolish the existing Kudumulugumma block and create Chitrakonda block for better governance with the seven panchayats situated across Balimela reservior.
Opposing the decision, sarpanchs, samiti members, a zilla parishad member of Nakamamudi, Somnathpur, Porkonmalla and Kudumulugumma panchayats resigned on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum addressed to the chief minister. At present, Kudumulugumma block consists of 11 panchayats.
"It's better to have Chitrakonda block for better governance of the seven panchayats which lies across the Balimela reservoir. But if Kudumulugummma block is abolished, then the residents of remaining four panchayats will face the same problem which the 'cut-off' area people are presently facing as it increase the distance from the villages to the block headquarters," said BJD leader and chairman of Cotton Federation Damburu Sisa.
According to Sisa, it will take the villagers at least two days to travel to Chitrakonda and back for work. "I appeal to the chief minister to reconsider the decision for the people of these four panchayats," he said.
Congress MP Pradeep Majhi has also opposed the government's decision of abolishing Kudumulugumma block. "Since long we have been demanding the creation of Chitrakonda block but not by abolishing Kudumulugumma. Abolition of Kumudulugumma will only increase the problems of the villagers," Majhi said.
Block development officer of Kudumulugumma R Khamari said, "The resignations of panchayat members have been forwarded to the collector and their memorandum has also been sent to the government."