Union Minister for Shipping, G.K. Vasan, exuded confidence that efforts would be made to christen Tuticorin Port Trust after V.O. Chidambaranar.
The Minister was addressing a meeting in Tirunelveli on the occasion of V.O. Chidambaranar's 139th birth anniversary on Sunday evening. Citing the gallant deeds of Veerapandia Kattabomman, VOC, Mahakavi Bharathiyar, Vaanjinathan and other leaders, he said Tirunelveli District was always on the forefront of the freedom movement.
Referring to the contributions of VOC, who weeded out the element of slavery from the British, he appealed to the younger generation to follow the footsteps of the freedom fighter and rejuvenate his ideologies among the public.
Recounting his achievements, Mr. Vasan said that VOC remained steadfast in promoting trade between India and Colombo during those days after launching the Swadeshi Ship – “Galileo and Lavo.”
Under the guidance of the Congress President Sonia Gandhi with a pragmatic leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Centre and the good governance in Tamil Nadu led by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, the dreams of VOC and freedom fighters were being converted into reality, he said.
While development works in Tuticorin Port were being made at a cost of Rs.312 crore, the Ennore port was getting developed at a cost of Rs.407 crore.
Out of a huge allocation of funds to the tune of Rs.3319.14 crore for port developments, 51 per cent of funds were earmarked for Tamil Nadu. Of the six developmental projects to be made for enhancing infrastructure facilities of ports in India, two would be for Tamil Nadu.
Ports established in Chennai, Ennore and Tuticorin were emerging as the major ones in Tamil Nadu, he added.
Earlier, a seven foot bronze statue of V.O. Chidambaranar installed at VOC stadium was unveiled by State Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan in the presence of Mr. Vasan.
Minister for Environment, Youth Welfare and Sports T.P.M. Maidheen Khan, S.S. Ramasubbu, MP, Peter Alphonse, Congress MLA, Karuppasamy Pandian MLA (DMK), Appaavu, MLA, former Minister Dhanuskodi Adityan and others participated.
1 comment:
In his first speech in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. C. N. Annadurai pointed out and regretted the fact that in the north of India, there are no streets bearing the names of freedom fighters like V.O.C hailing from India. Even now it remains true. Would Mr. G. K. Vasan take steps so that there are some airports or streets named after VOC, V V S AYYAR, SATHYAMOORTHY, RAJAJI, SRI PRAKASAM, and many others? Chokkalingam Pillai Namasivayam
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