Tamil Nadu   

Rs. 64-lakh shopping centre at Silver Beach likely

Special Correspondent

Curtains down on 5-day `Neithal-2007' summer festival

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION: Tourism Minister N.Suresh Rajan, giving away mementoes to winners of competitions held in connection with `Neithal-2007' summer festival at Silver Beach on Sunday. M.R.K.Panneerselvam, Backward Classes Welfare Minister (fourth from left), is in the picture.

CUDDALORE: The proposal to construct a shopping complex at Silver Beach at a cost of Rs. 64 lakh is under the consideration of the Government, according to N.Suresh Rajan, Minister for Tourism.

Speaking at the valedictory of the 5-day `Neithal-2007' beach summer festival here on Sunday, the Minister said Cuddalore district was endowed with many tanks.

Therefore, as part of the tourism promotion endeavour, it had been proposed to introduce water sports in these water bodies with private participation. Ever since the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had assumed office, the flow of tourists, both foreign and domestic, had gone up by 27 per cent.

On an average, 1.25 lakh foreign and 3.50 lakh domestic travellers visited the tourist spots in the State. For the convenience of the tourists, the Government had taken various measures, including upgradation of five hotels.

Under the Tourism Ministry there were 55 tourist hostels, of which 22 were being run by the Tourism Department. He promised to make the Silver Beach an attractive tourist destination over a period of time.

M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Backward Classes Welfare Minister, commended the district administration for having made the festival a success. Referring to the huge turnout, he said earlier Cuddalore had the misfortune of the sea incursion (tsunami) into the habitations, but now the people had started flooding the seashore.

Watchtower

The Minister envied the people who had the liberty to move around the beach freely, savouring the sea breeze. Being a Minister he could not enjoy such a freedom. Mr. Panneerselvam called upon District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo to build a watchtower at the beach to enable the visitors to have a bird's eye view of the sea. He called upon the municipality to reduce the fare for the joy ride (Rs. 25 for adults and Rs. 10 for children) at the Boat House set up at a cost of Rs. 25 lakh. He sought the cooperation of the local people in the upkeep of the beach and its surroundings.

G. Aiyappan, MLA, said the annual fete could be held for a week, and promised to sponsor a day's events. The Ministers gave away mementos to the winners of various competitions and the government departments that had set up stalls at the venue. The event concluded with colourful fireworks. Collector Rajendra Ratnoo, Superintendent of Police Pradip Kumar Municipal Chairman T.Thangarasu and Public Relations Officer M.R.Lingam participated.

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