The Hindu       07.02.2011

Building near Meenakshi temple meant for Tourist Information Centre, says Mayor

A board carrying biography of the late freedom fighter A. Vaidayanatha Iyer will be placed soon

: The structure that is coming up behind A. Vaidyanatha Iyer's statue (near Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple) is that of Tourist Information Centre and not a public toilet as reported by a section of the media, said Mayor G. Thenmozhi.

Addressing a press conference here in her chamber on Sunday, she said that it was a false propaganda initiated by vested interests to defame Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and create a rift between its alliance partners Congress. “DMK always respects the Congress leaders and freedom fighters,” she said.

The information centre coming was part of the Rs.37-lakh project to beautify the Meenakshi Park, modernisation of the existing toilet, landscaping the area with paver blocks on the lines of what had already been done on Chithirai Streets, the Deputy Mayor, P.M. Mannan said.

Projects to be over before year-end

Moreover, the Rs.12.5-crore projects, which include relocation of shopkeepers at Pudhumandapam to Kunnuthar Charithiram at an estimated cost of Rs.3.5 crore, multilevel car parking at the Old Central Market at the cost of Rs.5.32 crore and beautification of Teppakulam at Rs 2.crore would be done within the end of 2011.

Chief Engineer, K. Sakthivel, said that before the coming Assembly elections roads would be re-laid in Madurai and this project which cost Rs.48 crore is under way and laying of cement roads for 56 kilometers at various places is also in progress.

Answering a question on information panel for the late freedom fighter A. Vaidayanatha Iyer which was promised by the Corporation, she said that a board carrying the biography of the leader would be placed soon.