Villages brought under Karnal, Y’nagar MCS unhappy with devp

UPSET Want to move back to Panchayati Raj system, saying they were lagging behind as compared to other villages

KARNAL : Five years after several village panchayats were merged to form the new municipal corporations (MC) of Karnal and Yamunanagar, residents of most of these villages continue to be upset with the decision, saying that their villages were lagging behind in development as compared to others that have independent panchayats. Karnal MC says, “Our village did not get any benefit after the merger with the corporation. Even villages having independent panchayats are doing better than us while we have to pay more for all facilities, including the electricity bill.”similarly, Devendra Sharma of Uchani village of Karnal MC says, “We had opposed the move when our village was merged with the corporation. Now residents of most other villages too are saying that they did not benefits from being merged with the MC.” revenue. Since 2013, Karnal MC has collected ₹3.20 crore from these villages as land revenue.

Meanwhile, Karnal MC mayor Renu Bala Gupta refuted allegations of discrimination in development.

“Our corporation fulfils the population criteria of 3 lakh people and at present the population of Karnal MC including 15 villages is above 4 lakh,” she said adding, the demand of some villages, which are away from the city may be considered.

Karnal and Yamunanagar, along with Panipat, Panchkula, Ambala, Hisar and Rohtak were upgraded as municipal corporations in 2012.

A year later, as many as 41 villages were merged under Karnal MC and 15 villages under Yamunanagar in 2013.