The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Natural wealth waiting to be tapped

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Natural wealth waiting to be tapped

C. Jaishankar

Despite potential, Ramanathapuram is unable to shake off the tag of backward district

Ramanathapuram: Though the district has produced some illustrious persons including the President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar and a few popular Tamil film stars, the tag of a communally sensitive, and one of the socially, politically and economically backward districts in Tamil Nadu remains.

The erstwhile territory of the Sethupathy Kings has a 270 km long coastline, which constitutes nearly one-fourth of Tamil Nadu's coastline. It can be translated into one of the finest beaches in South India, as some parts of the coast have natural, beautiful sand dune beaches. More importantly, Rameswaram, one of the most important pilgrim centres for Hindus, and the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park have immense potential to attract tourists. If developed and marketed properly, Ramanathapuram district has the potential to emerge on a par with other developing districts.

In spite of all these natural gifts, the district is not able to shake off the stigma. Though many reasons are advanced for the sorry state of affairs, the voters here emphasise that the backward district has not produced an influential leader, who can persuade the policymakers and bureaucrats to tap the untapped natural resources and provide basic infrastructure including proper road and rail connectivity, and water. Even after the implementation of many water supply projects including the Naripaiyur Desalination Project, drinking water scarcity haunts most of the 12-lakh people of the district.

Shanmuga Rajeswara Sethupathy, Raja of Ramnad, who is no more, represented the Ramanathapuram constituency three times. Similarly, a noted freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar was elected to the State Assembly from Mudukulathur constituency in 1951 and 1957. The Thiruvadanai constituency has the distinction of electing father and son of a family to the Assembly eight times. Karia Manickam Ambalam was elected to the Assembly in 1957, 1962, 1967 and 1977. After his period, his son K.R. Ramasamy won the election in 1989, 1991, 1996 and 2001. The Congress has once again fielded K.R. Ramasamy from Thiruvadanai. S. Balakrishnan, former leader of the opposition, and former minister T. Ramasamy have won elections from the district.

The AIADMK and the TMC alliance won all the five constituencies of the district in the 2001 elections. Mr. Ram Prabhu, who won the election in 2001 as a TMC nominee in the AIADMK alliance, has been given another chance by the Congress, as part of the DMK-led alliance from Paramakudi. The AIADMK has fielded Dr. S. Sundarraj, former MLA, against Ram Prabhu from Paramakudi.

The AIADMK has denied tickets to the sitting MLAs Anwar Rhazza (Ramanathapuram) and Pathinettampadian (Mudukulathur). The AIADMK has allotted the Ramanathapuram constituency to the MDMK, which has fielded M. Palanisamy, a karate master for Ramanathapuram constituency. Similarly, the Congress has given chance to K. Hashan Ali of Kilakarai to contest from Ramanathapuram.

Former Minister V. Sathiamoorthy of the AIADMK is pitted against Suba. Thangavelan in Kadaladi. S.P. Kalimuthu of the AIADMK will take on Murugavel of the DMK from Mudukulathur.

In Thiruvadanai, Animuthu of the AIADMK is pitted against K.R. Ramasamy of the Congress. The Bharatiya Janata Party, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam and other smaller parties have also fielded candidates. There are 9,30,485 voters including 4,72,627 women voters in the district.

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