The Maoists have adopted a strategy to regain their lost ground by raising the issue of extension of the Potteru Irrigation canal work from Karkatpalli to Manyamkonda in Malkangiri district which the Government had promised the ultras during the release of former district Collector R Vineel Krishna at the hands of the elected panchayat representatives.
Fifteen sarpanches followed by 14 samiti members, 31 ward members and three Zilla Parishad members under Kalimela panchayat samiti arrived en masse at the Kalimela block office on Monday and handed over their resignation letters to the Gram Panchyat Extension Officer in the absence of the Block Development Officer citing the State Government’s failure to act on their eight-point demands including commencement of the canal extension work as the reason.
But the Maoist fear has reportedly forced the helpless PR members to quit from their posts. Several times in the past, the rebels also threatened them to resign on the issue. Though the PR members in their resignation letters have also mentioned about the other demands, the canal extension work is said to be central point on which the Maoists bank to get the support of the local people.
“I am aware of the recent development and high-ups in the Government have been informed,” said Collector M Muthukumar. A fresh survey work for the canal extension work would begin soon,” he added.
The Collector said serious efforts are on to provide basic amenities like drinking water, electricity and education to the inhabitants of the remote areas in Kalimela block. “I will look into the matter once the resignation papers come to me,” Muthukumar said.