Panel checks fund use in Rameswaram

The six member team was headed by Ramasamy, Karaikudi MLA of Indian National Congress (INC), while Karthick, DMK Singanallur MLA, Senguttavan, DMK Krishnagiri MLA, PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan, DMK Madurai Central MLA, Manickam, AIADMK Sholavandhan MLA, and Thaniyarasu, Kangeyam MLA, were the other members of the Committee. 

Though the committee comprises 19 MLAs, only six were present and a large number of them were from the DMK and its allies. The team visited Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi as part of a two-day inspection. 

On the first day, the team inspected developmental projects in and around Rameswaram and on the second day, it would hold discussion with Ramanathapuram Collector S Natarajan. However, Natarajan too accompanied the team on Tuesday.

Initially, the team visited the Rameswaram Municipality park, located near the bus stand, where renovation work were carried out at a cost of Rs 49 lakh. The team inspected the works undertaken. It also checked whether the fund was utilised properly or any part of it was wasted.

Following that they visited yatrinivas, a lodge that is under construction to facilitate stay for devotees visiting Rameswaram. The yatrinivas has been constructed at a cost of Rs 29 crore by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. The team inspected the ongoing construction works and checked the quality of materials used for construction.

The team then proceeded to Dhanushkodi to review the fishing jetty that was constructed at a cost of Rs 8 crore at Mukuntharayarchathiram. Apart from officials, the team also interacted with locals about the benefits of the projects.

Later, Ramasamy addressed the media and said the mandate of the committee was to inspect the developmental projects of the state government and to check if the funds were utilised properly. So far, they have no complaints about the works and the details of the projects would be discussed with officials in a meeting on Wednesday, said Ramasamy.