TN Govt allocates land for Kalam's memorial

Based on the letter sent by Union Urban Development Secretary to allocate land to Tamil Nadu Government, orders were issued by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, in which 1.36 acre land belonging to the state government was transferred to Central government for constructing the memorial, an official statement said.

The statement from the Government comes at a time when reports stated that the place where the memorial of the former President was proposed to be built was lying neglected.

An online signature campaign to drum up public support for the speedy construction of the memorial at Pei Karumbu in Rameswaram was also launched by civil society members.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on October 15, the birth anniversary of Kalam, that a memorial would be built for the late President and had requested Tamil Nadu Government to allocate land for the purpose, an official release said.

A high-level committee has been formed to monitor the construction work and during its first meeting held on November 6, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu thanked Jayalalithaa for allocating the land.

"The Central Public Works department has set up fence in the place were the State government has allocated the land," the release said.

Kalam passed away on July 27 in Shillong.

Modi, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and a host of other leaders attended his funeral in his hometown Pei Karumbu in Rameswaram to pay their last respects.

The Tamil Nadu Government, commemorating his birthday, announced that October 15 would be observed as "Youth Renaissance Day" every year.

A 'Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award' was also instituted by the state government commemorating his birth anniversary and ISRO scientist P Valarmathi was its first recipient.