School land encroached for temple use, tiny tots in peril

A part of a government school property at Velayuthampalaya village near Avinashi in Tiruppur district has been allegedly encroached upon for the last five years by influential people for use by a priest of a private Lord Muruga temple.

- P SRINIVASAN @Tiruppur

After unauthorised people claiming to be 'village representatives' walled off the two school buildings on government property, over 20 children studying in the anganwadi here are compelled to use a dilapidated old building on the premises, said villagers and activists. They have requested the district administration to take appropriate steps to recover the school buildings encroached upon by vested interests.

The private Murugan temple at Velayuthampalayam village, which is on the suburbs of Avinashi taluk, is next to three school buildings: two primary blocks, one in good condition and the other unusable, and a new anganwadi structure built in 2009 and renovated in 2018.