'Tamizh Thai' statue project in limbo.

The Rs.100-crore statue project of 'Tamizh Thai' (Mother Tamil) in Madurai, announced by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the Assembly in 2013, is in limbo.

Touted as Tamil Nadu's response to the Statute of Liberty in New York, United States, the proposed statue was to reflect the glory of the Tamil language. Even the likely site for the statue – Vandiyur tank in Madurai – was identified. But, nearly two years after the announcement, the project has seen little progress. The Supreme Court's order against the installation of statues in public places is cited as the reason.

Though the court's order came four months before the announcement, an official claims that the proposal was mooted much earlier. Another official maintains that the project has not been dropped. 'It is only that we have not been able to proceed further.' However, legal opinion has been sought on how to take forward the project, the official adds.

The Supreme Court, while passing an order on the issue of unveiling of statue of Sundaram Nadar, a Congress leader, in Neyyatinkara of Kerala on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari Highway, directed all States not to grant permission for erecting statues or construction of any structure at public places or on highways which would obstruct traffic.

In January 1999, the Madras High Court suggested to the State to impose a ban on erection of statues in public places. In the last few years, when the row erupted over the statue of Sivaji Ganesan on the Kamarajar Salai, Marina, on the ground that the statue blocked traffic, the High Court, in January 2014, directed the government to take a decision on the removal of the statue.

The officials of Tamil development say that in the last four years, most of the announcements made on the floor of the House were implemented. A massive building for the 'Ulaga Tamil Sangam' is coming up at Thallakulam in Madurai at a cost of about Rs. 25 crore. A gallery on Sangam Tamil in Madurai will soon be opened.


THE HINDU