Alleging that Kumbakonam has been given a raw deal by the Central Government in selection for important development projects, traders have given a call to down shutters on November 12.
Speakers at a meeting convened by the Confederation of All Traders’ Associations of Kumbakonam here on Tuesday slammed the Centre for failing to bring the town under the heritage town scheme for infrastructure development. While Kancheepuram, Velankanni and Madurai benefitted, Kumbakonam was neglected, they said.
Likewise the town missed the bus in the Smart City concept as it did not find a place in the list of 12 cities proposed for implementing the scheme in a phased manner. Same was the case for Kumbakonam with the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) being implemented by the Centre for which 33 towns and cities in the State were selected but Kumbakonam was kept out.
Reeling out the grandeur of the town, speakers recalled that Kumbakonam was once the headquarters of the mighty Cholas, venue of the Mahamaham, home to ancient temples that are architectural marvels, sacred spot where numerous mutts and religious centres have flourished and keeping Kumbakonam out of such lists was unjust.
Similarly, the railway department has denied the region some important projects such as Kumbakonam-Jayamkondam-Vridhachalam new rail line that was promised by the previous Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda in 2013-14 and infrastructure development work ahead of Mahamaham.
The Confederation has urged all its member associations to shut down their jobs on November 12 to give vent to their agony over the continued neglect of the town. Confederation chairman Adiyan Chettiyar and secretary Sathyanarayanan spoke.
