Constituency Monitoring: Vaniyambadi | Talk of Muslim votes in Vaniyambadi

When it comes to leather exports, Vanyambadi tops this list. The constituency is also famous for its lip-smacking biryani and footwear industries. But there are long-standing issues such as the addition of Tepanion and Palar, the lack of government colleges and the need for rail over-bridges.

The constituency consists of several villages. Due to lack of water for irrigation, a good number of farmers have given up agriculture and moved to Bengaluru to work as daily wages.

It has seen both DMK and AIADMK win in previous elections. This year, AIADMK won the G.I. Senthil Kumar has been fielded. Mohammad Naeem of the Indian Union Muslim League is contesting on behalf of the DMK-led coalition.

The current MLA is Nilofar Kafeel, Labor Minister. However, he was refused renunciation. She accuses Commercial Tax Minister KC Veeramani of this.

Vaniyambadi has a large Muslim population. Social activist Pallar AC Venkatesan says, “People here do not usually vote for a party that is aligned with the BJP.”

Residents, however, complain that whichever party comes to power, some of their demands are never met. “Palar enters Vaniyambadi Tamil Nadu from Andhra Pradesh. Agriculture and about 10 lakes depend on the river, which is often dry. The river is the lifeline for most parts of north Tamil Nadu. Although Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have made check-dams across the river, the water never reaches us.

Rain water flows in this area. “Several years ago, the National Water Development Agency stated that it is possible to divert 3.5 tmc feet of water from Thepanian to Palar. All is needed to construct a canal from the Nedangal check-dam at Tapanian in Krishnagiri district and to bring water to Kallar near Natrampalli in Tirupathur district. This will bring water in the paler. But it has not been done so far.

Another demand is the construction of a metro at the New Town railway crossing at Vaniyambadi. “There were two railway crossings in the constituency – Pudur LC 82 and New Town LC 81. After much effort, a rail over-bridge was constructed at Pudur 10 years ago. During the same period, one for New Town Crossing The metro was approved. But the work has not even started. The work should be done soon, “says K. Shekhar, resident.

Residents also want government arts and polytechnic colleges. “We also need a government higher secondary school. Children travel about 6 km and go to a government school. Most educational institutions are private, ”he says.

The constituency has seen growth in terms of road, transport and water. “But many villagers want water supply through the Cauvery Integrated Water Supply Scheme,” notes Mr. Venkatesan.

People want the government to occupy private mines because they are harming the environment. “As there are many tanneries and leather industries in the constituency, we need an export area, a leather park and an institute to train youth in leather technology,” he says.