Rs.100 crore coming as a shot in the arm for Thirunallar

An amount of Rs. 100 crore has been earmarked as grant to develop Thirunallar, where the Lord Saneeswara Temple is located, into a temple town in the current financial year. The revenue generated will take care of the “recurring needs of the project in future,” Chief Minister N. Rangasamy announced on Monday.

The formation of Western by-pass road in Karaikal (phase I North of the Thirunallar road) at a cost of Rs. 20.56 crore has been proposed under the Thirunallar Temple Development Project, he said.

Presenting a budget of Rs. 5540 crore for the current year, Mr. Rangasamy said a one Megawatt solar Power Plant will be established at Karaikal through a private entrepreneur selected under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. The entire power will be utilised to meet the demands of the Karaikal Region, he said.

With financial assistance from the Central Government, it is proposed to construct a five volley ball synthetic court at Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam in the current financial year, he said.

Talking about new health schemes for the enclaves, Mr. Rangasamy said that a General Nursing and Midwifery School is planned at Karaikal with an intake of 60 students. The school will re-place the Auxilliary Nurse Midwife School and is a Government of India initiative to increase the nursing personnel in the country.

Also, the insurance schemes implemented for BPL families in Karaikal will now be extended to Mahe and Yanam, with the same terms and conditions, he said.

Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, 144 of the total 432 dwelling units will be finished before the end of the financial year. Based on the launch of JNNURM Phase II by the Ministry of Urban Development, City Development Plan for Karaikal will be prepared, he said.

Water supply scheme to South Zone Karaikal is proposed at a cost of Rs. 49.95 crore. The coastal police station in Karaikal will also be opened, he said.

The Government Middle Special School for Deaf and Dumb will be upgraded to a High School, he said.

Speaking of the Aadhar and Smart Card enrolment, he said that enrolment camps were in progress in Karaikal and in Yanam and the process would be completed by August 2012.