Complete Tamil meet works at the earliest: Velu

Coimbatore: Minister for Food and Civil Supplies and Chairman of the Hospitality Committee for the coming World Classical Tamil Conference, E.V. Velu on Tuesday told officials to complete works relating to food courts, restaurants at the earliest.

Arrangements should be visitor-friendly with adequate counters to ensure easy access. Mr. Velu was addressing a meeting of the hospitality committee to take stock of the progress in works and speed up the pending works.

Arrangements reviewed

Mr.Velu reviewed the arrangements being made for the kitchens for mass cooking.

He reviewed the safety arrangements in the kitchens. He asked officials to be ready for any emergencies.

Considering the crowd inflow and time available for lunch, he exhorted the officials to make additional counters for ensuring easy access.

The committee members visited the CODISSIA Trade Fair complex, the venue for the conference, and inspected the works for food courts and counters. The Minister also inspected and enquired about the modern kitchen equipments made available for cooking large quantity of food in quickest possible time.

Tamil conference works progressing at good pace

STOCK-TAKING:Collector P. Umanath (centre) explaining to Law Minister Durai Murugan (right) and Rural Industries Minister Pongalur

Coimbatore: The works to put up various facilities at the venue of the World Classical Tamil Conference here are progressing at a good pace, Law Minister Durai Murugan said on Sunday after a review in the city. The conference will be held from June 23 to 27.

A lot of progress had been made since December 25, 2009, when he had come on an inspection of the venue just before the start of the works, the Minister said.

Mr. Durai Murugan, who is the vice-chairman of the Reception Committee for the conference, wanted the officials concerned to adhere to a timeline in preparing a list of invitees and sending invitations to them either by post or by e-mail.

The other works to be done were preparing the diagrams of the seating arrangements, entry and exit points at the venue and the printing of vehicle pass.

Secretary for Public Works and committee co-ordinator Devajothi Jagarajan said reception centres would be put up in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and Tiruchi and these would be networked.

Communication

A centre with communication facilities at the Coimbatore Railway Junction and a computerised control room at the Coimbatore Airport would be established, he said.

Deputy Speaker of the Assembly V.P. Duraisamy, Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy, Special Officer for the conference K. Allaudin, Director of Information and Public Relations K. Bhaskaran, Coimbatore Collector P. Umanath, City Police Commissioner C. Sylendra Babu, Mayor R. Venkatachalam and member of the committee and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Coimbatore Kendra’s Chairman B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar were among those who were present during the review.

Chola copper plates to be exhibited at Tamil meet

School Education MinisterThangam Thennarasu showing the recently discovered Chola period artefacts found near Thiruindalur to Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi in Chennai on Thursday. Deputy Chief Minister M.K.Stalin, Union Minister A.Raja, Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S.Arumugam and Information Minister Parithi Ellamvazhuthi are in the picture.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday viewed copper plates and other artefacts of the Chola period recovered recently in Thiruindalur near Mayiladuthurai, in Chennai.

The copper plates, which form one of the largest such finds in the country, will be exhibited at the World Classical Tamil conference in Coimbatore.

School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu explained the details of the recovery to the Chief Minister here. Speaking to The Hindu, T.S.Sridhar, Commissioner of Archaeology, said the 86 plates record the donation of eight villages to brahmins by Rajadhiraja I, son of Rajendra I, to create the Rajendrachola chaturvedimangalam. The donation itself is recorded by Rajadhiraja's brother Rajendra II.

Forming a larger collection than the famous Karandai plates, which record a donation of Rajendra I, the plates are complete, as seen by the inscription on the ring saying that 86 plates had been attached, Mr. Sridhar said.

“There are many other interesting details. Along with the information on what families should get what grants, the plates record extensively what should be done for washer people, barbers and others serving the village,” Mr. Sridhar said.

The plates also record that the elder brother made the donation at his capital in Pazhaiyar while the younger brother recorded it at his capital in Gangaikondacholapuram, Mr. Sridhar added.

While the first seven plates are in Sanskrit containing the “prashasti” or the “meikeerthi,” the remaining plates are in Tamil. The Grantham script is used in the seal.

Mr. Sridhar said these details had been gleaned from a first reading of the plates, the Sanskrit part of which was looked at by R. Nagasamy, former Commissioner, while the Tamil part was looked at by N. Marxia Gandhi and R. Sivanandham.

Works related to Tamil conference inspected

TAKING STOCK:Highways Minister M.P. Saminathan (right) and Rural Industries

Coimbatore: Minister for Highways and Ports, M.P. Saminathan, Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry Minister, Pongalur N. Palanisamy along with Collector P.Umanath on Monday inspected the various ongoing road and bridge works while Rajya Sabha MP, Kanimozhi inspected the works at CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex where the World Classical Tamil Conference is scheduled to be held from June 23.

Mr. Saminathan, Mr. Pongalur N. Palanisamy and the Collector inspected the Chettipalayam – Podanur – Nanjundapuram – Ramanathapuram roadworks being carried out for a distance of 12 km at Rs. 10.15 crore. Mr. Saminathan also reviewed the works on the construction of rail overbridge at Rs. 5.34 crore and the approach road being laid at Rs. 2 crore.

The Highways Minister said the Chief Minister had earmarked Rs. 60 crore for various road and bridge works and the works were progressing on a war-footing. Works relating to widening of Tiruchi Road i.e., NH 67 from Chinthamanipudur to Stock Exchange for a distance of 8 km at Rs. 16 crore were nearing completion.

Mr. Saminathan said a sum of Rs. 50 crore had been allocated for widening the Mettupalayam Road from Kavundampalayam to Narashimanaickenpalayam.

While inspecting works at CODISSIA, Ms. Kanimozhi asked the authorities to increase the height of the stage from 18 ft to 24 ft so that all the visitors could watch the proceedings on stage.

The Collector said two rooms were being established on either side of the stage for the benefit of the dignitaries and visitors. It was also informed that four LED television sets of giant size screen and 100 plasma screen television sets of 42 inch were also being installed for the benefit of the audience.

Ms.Kanimozhi visited the VOC Park grounds where shelters were being erected for the preparation of floats for the procession on the inaugural day of the conference.