Minister for Municipal Administration K.N. Nehru laying the foundation stone for an underground drainage project at Uthangudi in Madurai on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: G. MOORTHY

“In the last three years, ₹54.56 crore has been spent on developmental projects in Melur region alone,” said Minister for Municipal Administration K.N. Nehru. 

He inaugurated the Colonel Pennycuick Bus Stand at Melur on Sunday. “While ₹3 crore was first allocated for the project, a total of ₹6 crore was spent for facilities and infrastructure improvements,” he added.  

Speaking on the knowledge centre which was opened by him, Mr. Nehru said of the 100 knowledge centres in the State, Melur was one of the places to get one centre.  

“With the aim to expand such facilities from cities to rural areas, this knowledge centre was planned and opened in Melur,” he noted.  

The centre has rare books which could be used by the public and students. Additionally, virtual classes taken by Anna University professors at the centres should be utilised by the students to clear any doubts and to develop their knowledge, he said.  

Further, the detailed project report on underground drainage (UGD) system in Melur was under preparation and once it was completed, it would be sent to the Chief Minister for the approval and fund allocation made by the government, he said. 

“When the UGD system is focused only on cities and corporations, Melur getting UGD facility would give a facelift to the area,” he added.  

Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P. Moorthy, while speaking at the event, said people should realise that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was supportive of the people’s protest, especially against the tungsten mining proposal.

“It is the main reason why cases booked against 5,000 protesters were withdrawn,” he noted.  

He recalled that Mr. Stalin had given a promise to stop the project from being implemented in the district at any cost. 

Later, Mr. Nehru also inaugurated a shopping complex built at a cost of ₹1.50 crore at Dr. Ambedkar bus stand at Alanganallur.