Over Rs. 18 lakh worth of funds have been contributed for the development of Ramakkal Eri as a tourist spot, according to a press release from the Collectorate here on Wednesday.
The release adds that a public appeal was given by District Collector R. Lilly to donate liberally for the scheme, as the Ramakkal Eri is to be developed as a tourist spot at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.60 crore.
The district administration has sent a proposal to the government and started developing the park on the tank bund at a cost of Rs. 75 lakh from DRDA under the Self Sufficiency Scheme.
For this, the public have to contribute one-third of the project cost i.e. Rs. 25 lakh during the first week of March.
Funds started pouring in from people in various walks of life.
They handed over cheques to the Collector and also deposited funds in the bank account opened for the purpose in Pallavan Grama Bank as well as Indian Bank.
The Associations of Granite Merchants contributed the maximum of Rs. 10 lakh.
Others who contributed Rs. 25,000 and above were: Varuvan Vadivelan College Rs. 1,11,111; Dharmapuri District Bus Owners Association, 1.50 lakh; Match Box Manufacturers Association Rs. 1.50 lakh; Senthil Group of Companies Rs. 1 lakh; and Vijay Vidyalaya Rs. 1 lakh.
Contribution of Rs. 50,000 each was handed over by Shankar, 22nd Ward, Dharmapuri Municipality; Dharmapuri Stone Quarry Manufacturers Association; Ranga Groups and Dr. Kalavalli.
Those who contributed Rs. 25,000 each were Sigma Training Institute; Thangam Hospital; Don Bosco Higher Secondary School; and Madhurabai Sundarrao Marriage Hall.
A sum of Rs. 1,000 was contributed by Kandasamy Kamarajar Education Trust. The total contributions received came up to Rs. 18,91,111.
