Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has sanctioned Rs 8.90 crore for renovation of the memorials of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai and M.G.Ramachandran on the Marina.
A State government press release said on Sunday that thousands of people visited these memorials every day and the government wanted to keep the places and the environment clean. An announcement to this effect was made during the debate on the demand for grants for Information Department in 2011-12.
The memorial of Annadurai will be renovated at a cost of Rs 1.20 crore and MGR memorial at a cost of Rs 4.30 crore. Besides, the government would spend Rs 3.40 crore for remodelling the façade of MGR memorial and for constructing a new wall around the memorial complex.
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When Ms Jayalalithaa became the Chief Minister of the state in 1991, she remodelled MGR's memorial and it was opened in 1992. The memorial complex was laid with marbles.
The DMK government renovated Annadurai's memorial after it came to power in 1996.
After the tsunami struck the coastal parts of the State in December 2004, the two samadhis were affected. Subsequently, the authorities took up repair works at the cost of about Rs. 1.33 crore.
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During 1996-1998, the renovation of the mausoleum was taken up at a cost of about Rs. 2.75 crore.
As part of the work, the original tusk-shaped entrance arch gave way to a structure with highly polished marble tiles. Pathways were also widened and ornamental octagonal mandapams built.