The Hindu : VIPs will have to keep off flagpost pillar base

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

VIPs will have to keep off flagpost pillar base

By R.K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI Aug. 11. At Fort St. George here, the seat of State power, many VIPs will watch the flag hoisting ceremony from a distance this Independence Day.

When the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, unfurls the tricolour on August 15, only a select few can be near the base of the pillar. The reason: the platform on the ramparts is weak.

Though the base of the 150-foot metallic flagpost, located along the boundary wall of the Fort, has enough space to accommodate many VIPs, the authorities do not want to take chances with its structural stability.

Even last year assorted VIPs and the press were huddled in enclosures at an elevation near the base. But this year, the authorities, apparently after evaluating the structure, decided that it was better to cut down on the numbers in this area. Hence, entry to this section will be restricted to the top few.

Temporary gallery

Meanwhile, hectic preparations are under way to complete work on a temporary viewing gallery, on the other side of Kamarajar Salai, for the VIPs, the press and an enlarged visual media contingent.

It was the earlier AIADMK Government which replaced the historic 307-year-old teakwood flagstaff in 1994, as it had become weak. A metallic pole of equal height and similar design was put up, keeping in mind the need for maintaining the semblance with the earlier three-tier flag mast.

While the flagstaff was replaced, there was no serious modification of the entire base area. This was because of the nature of control of the Fort and the flagstaff, officials suggested. The Fort is with the Archaeological Survey of India and the flagstaff belongs to the Army.

The officials recall that earlier the Chief Secretary would take note if some civil servants did not turn up for the function. Also, there was a kind of "informal" attendance taken. And, each year, the Chief Secretary sent across a note, communicating his or her displeasure at the attendance levels.

But there was no such note last year, the officials said. One view was that the structural problems could have been the reason.

For some on the lower rungs, it seemed a message that it did not really matter if one did not make it to the function. This year, most of them will have seats, though a little distance away.

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