New building for the TN Assembly in Anna salai

A view of Omandurar Government Estate on Anna Salai in Chennai, where the new building for the Assembly is to be constructed.The State Government on Tuesday decided to construct a new building for the Tamil Nadu Assembly in the Omandurar Government Estate on Anna Salai.The decision follows Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's announcement of a new building for the Assembly in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on May 12.Mr. Karunanidhi, in his acceptance speech to the felicitations on the golden jubilee of his legislative career, had said the Government, responding to the plea made by the floor leaders, would construct the new Assembly complex on a suitable site.

According to a decision taken at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the new Assembly building would be constructed in the Government Estate leaving structures such as Rajaji Mantapam, Kalaivanar Arangam and new residential complex of the Members of Legislative Assembly untouched.Sources said the Cabinet also discussed legal steps to speed up the case before the Supreme Court against the backdrop of Andhra Pradesh Government's decision to construct a check dam across the Palar river, an important source of drinking water, besides irrigation in the northern districts of the State.The Cabinet meeting also discussed the new industrial policy.The Chief Minister had announced in the Assembly on May 8 that the policy was ready and that it would be placed before the Cabinet soon, the sources pointed out.

The Cabinet adopted a resolution greeting the Chief Minister on his completion of 50 years as a legislator. "The Cabinet feels proud and happy that Mr. Karunanidhi, who has chosen the path of secularism, has been playing an outstanding role in promoting humanitarian values to strengthen democracy and equality," it said.Describing Mr. Karunanidhi as a multi-faceted personality, the resolution said he had made a mark in different fields including literature, stage play, film world and oratory.He was a political sage, Tamil scholar, unparalleled administrator and outstanding Dravidian leader, it added.