A railing 'divides' Tamil Nadu, Puducherry!

Cuddalore (TN), Dec 27: A railing put up by Tamil Nadu on a road here has turned out to be an irritant for Puducherry which claims it is affecting the free movement of people.

However, Tamil Nadu says Puducherry's claim is "misplaced". According to locals in Puducherry, the railing blocks access to villages under Puducherry territory including Parrikalpattu which is less than one kilometre from the Collectorate here.

Situated along the Gundu Salai Road, the railing effectively prevents access to a bridge cum check dam over the River Pennaiyar which is now running full after the rains.

While Gudu Salai Road falls under Tamil Nadu, villages across the river comes under the Union Territory. Locals claim that "the railing was put up by Tamil Nadu government to prevent tipplers from creating nuisance in front of the Collectorate after consuming cheap alcoholic beverages (in Puducherry villages) by crossing over the bridge."

A senior Puducherry district authority official said, "We do not want the railing to be there."

Demaning free movement of people, he said, "It is affecting free movement of the people. We are liaising with the Cuddalore District (Tamil Nadu) authorities, the railing should go."

However, a top Cuddalore district authority official said, "It is not a free public road at all, it is a check dam on the river," adding, "the claim of Puducherry that it is affecting the free movement of people is misplaced."

PTI