The Tamil Nadu government has increased the number of village panchayats in the Nilgiris district from 35 to 88.
The new village panchayats have been formed by splitting 27 existing village panchayats. The remaining eight village panchayats have not been disturbed. The government has taken the decision, given the factors such as the hilly terrain, the lack of transport, and residents of the villages being unable to reach panchayat union offices.
Consequently, the government has decided to increase the number of village panchayats in the Udhagamandalam panchayat union from 13 to 38: in the Coonoor panchayat union from 4 to 11; in the Kothagiri panchayat union from 7 to 19; and in the Gudalur panchayat union, from 3 to 20.
An order to this effect was issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department on November 27.
The decision is part of the government’s efforts to re-organise rural local bodies. An official clarifies that for the time being, no other district will see any increase in the number of village panchayats and the government may not upgrade the Udhagamandalam municipality as a municipal corporation.
Published – December 01, 2025 08:53 pm IST
