In a recent development, a contentious issue has emerged in Madhampalayam village, Erode District, Satyamangalam Taluk, involving the alleged encroachment of a pond area and the construction of a cemetery. Local residents have expressed their concerns by sending a memorandum to the Chief Minister, demanding the removal of the encroachment in their village. It is important to note that their objection was not against Christianity but against the encroachment on the pond itself.
Unfortunately, their plea has been met with rejection, as the petition has been denied on the grounds that there is no encroachment and no pond in the specified location. This denial comes at odds with the actions of the DMK government, which has undertaken the dismantling of over 500 temples in Tamil Nadu, citing encroachment issues since it came to power. Despite the community’s efforts to bring this matter to the attention of the Chief Minister, their claims have been outright dismissed.
The response received by the petitioner who complained about the encroachment in the Jallikuttai (pond) states, “Erode District, Sathyamangalam Taluk, Madhampalayam Village, Field No 235 and the extent is 3.58.50 hect is also known as named Kallankuthu in the village account. There is no PWD canal in the above field. The map only has record of the water way. There is no encroachment in the water way. So the petitioner representing the Crpc 1973 u/s 40 – no need to take action. Petition can be dismissed.”
However, questions arise concerning the existence of a bridge on Puliyampatti Road and the presence of a sluice gate. Further investigation into past activities in the area has revealed the construction of a small-scale dam in 2012-13, costing approximately ₹ 1, 69,000, under the Rural Infrastructure Project. This information, obtained from the Department of Water Resources, supports the existence of a bridge on the site.
Additional information was gathered through a Right to Information (RTI) request to the Highway Department, which confirmed the cost of constructing the bridge over the waterway as ₹6,61,577. The same department also verified that excess rainwater from the area reaches the Jallikuttai pond via a bridge constructed by the administration at a cost of six lakhs. However, a petition to the government sidetracked the issue to mark the area as “disputed land”, suggesting an attempt to avoid accountability.
To gain further clarity on the issue, an analysis of documents possessed by the neighbouring landowners is necessary. This analysis reveals the existence of a pond in the area. Additionally, a petition document from February 1970, presented to the then MP Subbaiah, provides evidence of the pond’s presence in the region. However, the state government is reportedly attempting to establish that Christians have been burying their dead in this place for the past 40-50 years. Despite substantial evidence being presented, the government categorically denies the encroachment claims and refuses to take appropriate action.
This is not an isolated incident limited to a remote village in Satyamangalam; similar occurrences involving Christian groups and cemeteries encroaching on farmland and wastelands have been reported across Tamil Nadu. The establishment of cemeteries is believed to play a significant role in religious conversion, with the Church advocating for a cemetery to accompany every church. In cases where sufficient land is unavailable, it is alleged that issues are raised to capture land, taking advantage of the support from the DMK government.
These cemetery-related issues are prevalent throughout Tamil Nadu, yet they have received minimal attention from the media. Reports suggest that substantial funds, ranging from ₹250 to 300 crores, are being allocated for cemetery establishment in the state.
These circumstances raise concerns regarding potential bias and favoritism in the government’s decision-making process, favouring specific communities.
(With inputs from Maridhas)
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