Tribal ire at municipal corporation. Pix: Srinivas

Jamshedpur, Jan. 10: Opposition to the proposed Jamshedpur Municipal Corporation has overshadowed the support for it, with a number of social and political organisations across the spectrum protesting against the move in unison.

While a BJP delegation submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, Nitin Madan Kulkarni, voicing their support for the move, his office remained abuzz with demonstrations and dharnas by different organisations against the proposed move.

Representatives from various gram sabhas (of villages, which have been included in the proposed corporation) today thronged the district collectorate as well, along with hundreds of villagers armed with traditional weapons.

?We strongly resent the government notification to incorporate panchayats under Schedule V areas into the proposed urban corporation. The rural populace, which depend largely on agrarian economy, would then be subjected to urban tax slabs and facilities. They would lose the facilities that they were enjoying in the rural areas,? said Purna Chandra Mahali of Gadra village under the Jamshedpur sadar block.

Meanwhile, Jamshedpur Citizens? Forum that has been spearheading the agitation against the formation of the municipal corporation, has submitted its first response to the East Singhbhum district administration, claiming to have garnered the support of over 50,000 residents in their petition.

Working president of the Jamshedpur Citizens? Forum A.K. Srivastava, through a press communiqu?, has suggested that the state government should instead grant an industrial township status for the steel city encompassing areas under the Mango Notified Area Committee and the Jugsalai Municipality.

The Adivasi Adhikar Morcha (AAM), which held a public meeting at Karandih Chowk, also stamped their disapproval on the government initiative.

Chief convener of AAM Salkhan Murmu called upon the tribals to protest against the ?anti-tribal? move of the government to incorporate rural areas under the ambit of an urban unit.