Eleven villages in the Solapur district of Maharashtra’s Akkalkot tehsil have requested basic facilities from the district administration or permission to merge with neighbouring Karnataka.
The request for a merger comes as a result of a recent flare-up in the long-running border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka. Both states lay claim to specific border regions that are under their respective jurisdiction.
Basavraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, has previously claimed possession over Solapur, some “Kannada-speaking” areas of Akkalkot tehsil, and Jat Taluka.
On Monday, the Solapur collector received a list of demands from the gram panchayats of Kallakarjal, Kegaon, Shegaon, Korsegaon, Aalge, Dharsang, Andewadi (Khurd), Hilli, Devikavathe, Mangrul, and Shawal in the Akkalkot tehsil.
The villages on the list have requested basic amenities from the district administration, and if their demands are not met, they have requested permission to merge with Karnataka.
The sarpanch of one of the 11 villages, Aalagi, Sagunabai Hatture, asserted that these places lacked proper roads, power, and water supplies.
“As there is no proper road to our village, teachers and medical staff at the primary health centre cannot come to the village. Youngsters find it difficult to go out to access education and for other works due to lack of connectivity,” Hatture was quoted by news agency PTI.
According to Hatture, a decision was made by the gramme panchayat to write the district collector and demand that the government either provide these villages with basic services or permit them to unite with Karnataka.
Mahantesh Hatture, an Aalagi local, claimed that the neighbouring regions of Karnataka have good road connectivity and access to enough water.
According to Appasaheb Shatgar, the sarpanch of Hilli village, these villages had terrible road connectivity and water concerns.
“The Ujani dam releases a lot of water during the monsoon season, and due to poor management, sugarcane fields and houses flood. However, no water is released to our areas throughout the summer. We have to beg politicians and officials concerned for water,” Shatgar said.
He added that the healthcare system was likewise subpar and that the school infrastructure was deficient.
Shatgar emphasised that Karnataka has access to all necessary amenities, including motorable roads, street lighting, and ample electricity supply.
“Although we have no affection for Karnataka, how long can we put up with this injustice? Now that it has been 75 years, “He said that the villages would not have wanted merger with the neighbouring state if the Maharashtra government had offered them the most basic amenities.
(With inputs from news agency PTI)
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