The first phase of work on setting up a ‘Garden of Classical Tamil' in Coimbatore will commence soon on 49.4 acres, Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan said on Friday.
Noting that it would come up in connection with the World Classical Tamil Conference, he told the Assembly that the plan was to set up the garden on 165 acres presently occupied by the Coimbatore Central Prison.
“In consultation with reputed landscape architects, this garden will be established at a cost of Rs.20 crore,” he said.
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As many as 6,086 scholars proposed to present research papers and 1,270 delegates belonging to 50 countries, including India had registered their participation in the conference, he said.
The government would establish ‘Tolkappiar World Tamil Sangam' on 14.15 acres in the Tallakulam area in Madurai, the site chosen in 1982 for setting up the Sangam.
It had decided to open a museum, depicting the greatness of arts, literature and culture of Tamil Nadu, and a convention centre which will have statues of the Sangam age and Tamil scholars.
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Mr. Anbazhagan also announced construction of memorials for Vanchinathan [who killed Tirunelveli Collector Robert William d'Escourt Ashe at Maniyachi railway station in June 1911] in Shencottah; Gopal Naicker [who brought together Marudu brothers, Kannada chieftain Tundajiwagh, Keralavarma and Haji Khan of Coimbatore to fight the south Indian war of independence against the British] in Virupatchi; Ondiveeran [freedom fighter and commander-in-chief of Pooli Thevan's army] in Tirunelveli region and former Chief Minister Omandur Ramasami Reddiar in Omandur.
He also announced the government's decision to buy copyrights of the works of 22 Tamil scholars including N.D. Sundaravadivelu and make their works available in the public domain.