Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Foundation stone laid for new Assembly complex

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the new Legislative Assembly complex and Secretariat at the Omandurar Government Estate here.

The Assembly complex, spread over 1.2 lakh square metres in two blocks, will have a mix of both traditional and modern features. The Assembly division will have seating for 300 MLAs.

The 2010-2011 State budget will be presented in the new Legislative Assembly, said Public Works Department Minister Durai Murugan.

Chief Justice of the Madras High Court A.K. Ganguly, speaking on the decision to attend the function, said the normal practice was for “judiciary and its members” to stay away from the other arms of the State — executive and legislature.

“That is the conventional view. I think judiciary is a part of the State. That is also the Constitutional dispensation. Being part of the State, Judges and judiciary are not out of place in this evening’s function,” said Mr. Justice Ganguly. The Assembly should function for securing the rights and dignity of the common man.

Mr. Karunanidhi, who took permission from the Chief Justice to speak remaining seated, explained that the complex was not coming up at the cost of other schemes. He recalled many of the schemes being implemented, to stress that the government was serious about all development schemes.

It needed a new place for legislators to debate on the schemes.

He called upon the PWD Minister and the department not be swayed by hostile opinion and wanted them to complete the project at the earliest.

Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan said the movement from inside Fort to the government estate was symbolic as it represented one more step closer to the people.

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