Two members of the 15th Finance Commission, accompanied by officials and escort officers – State government IAS officers, arrived here on a two-day visit to the district, identified as one of the aspirational districts by the Centre for achieving an overall development and inspected implementation of various projects.
Anoop Singh and Ashok Lahri, members of the of the 15th Finance Commission and officials, after an overnight stay in Madurai, arrived here on Friday and inspected the solar power generation at Adani group’s solar power station, established at the total cost of ₹4,536 crore at Kamuthi.
Vikram Kapur, Principal Secretary, Energy department and Chairman and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), with officials of Adani group, took the members and officials around the 648 MW Solar Power Station, the world’s largest solar park in a single location in Kamuthi block in the district.
The members and officials later visited the Genetic Heritage Garden, an ecological garden, developed by the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency at Achadipirambu on the East Coast Road (ECR), showcasing the geographical divisions of the State.
Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao explained that the garden had been developed representing the concept of ‘Paalai’ (parched wasteland and desert), one of the five landscapes defined in the ancient Sangam literature.
Later, the team members visited a photo exhibition arranged at a star hotel in Rameswaram and Mr. Rao explained the implementation of various State and Centrally-sponsored projects.
The Fisheries department officials explained fishing activities, especially the deep-sea fishing project launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under blue revolution. The department officials also gave details on the progress of ongoing fishing harbour work at Mookaiyur and fish landing centre at Kunthukal.
The forest department showcased the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, while the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), its research activities. The officials later visited Danushkodi, Arichamunai after offering worship at Sri Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram.